Marianne's Response
Hydrangea Confusion
My big leaf hydrangeas were in the shade until a very old maple came down last summer letting in way more light. They then shot up and produced flowers making me very happy. The trouble is I have no idea what to do regarding pruning. The hydrangeas seem to die right back to the ground every year. How do you know if the stems are dead or alive? I have driven myself crazy by reading so much conflicting information online. I have tried to upload pictures and videos but I’ve been unsuccessful.
Posted by Erin Quirke on May 18, 2022
Marianne's Response
The easy answer is. do not prune your hydrangeas - at all. If you do not wish to look at any dead brown wood that appears, wait until June when the hydrangeas are leafed out. Cut off the bare brown branches with no foliage. Hydrangeas prefer afternoon shade. But they will flower much more with additional sunlight as you have discovered. Pamper them with mulch on top of the roots. That will keep them cool. Be sure to provide extra water on warm days. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
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