When hydrangeas go dormant in cold weather, are you supposed to cut the old wood to the ground, or leave it? I left it and each year it grows again but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to do this?
Cutting old wood
Old wood that does not leaf out by mid May has a low chance of coming back and can be pruned at the base at that time. Ig it leafs out by then, there is no need to prune so leave those (unless you have another reason for pruning like aesthetics, safety, etc).
Some types of hydrangeas will develop invisible flower buds at the end of the stems in the Fall so, pruning stems that leaf out could result in cutting off this year's blooms on those stems.
Ok thank you for your help!
Glad I found this post! A neighbor just gave me 2 of hers and I know nothing about them! I just know this is an old variety.
Oh, thank you Luis - more good and timely advice.
Donna
This message was edited May 9, 2013 7:31 PM
I have just been leaving the ugly old stems there and when spring gets here, I start looking for green growth. I may have cut off a few blooms but they bloom a little along anyway. Luciee {;^)