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#407939 Nov 15th, 2020 at 09:48 AM
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I need advice on when and how far down to cut my hydrangea.
It has been on the property for over 60 years and always does fine.
It has white blooms that peak in mid to late summer. People in my
neighborhood call it a snowball bush. Is this the common name?

I have always cut it right to the ground, some years in late fall, some
years in spring. It does not seem to change how it does.
It grows to about 4 and a half feet tall by season end.

Some years it gets more blooms than others. Can anyone tell me
if I cut it back to about 18 inches will it end up taller than in the past?
Also by not cutting it back as far, will it get more blooms?

Finally, when is best fall or spring pruning?
Your advice will be appreciated

Harry502 #407951 Nov 16th, 2020 at 12:06 PM
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Yes, Snowball bush is the common name. I cut the flower heads off of mine as soon as they are done blooming and give it a trimming at the same time.

Cutting as soon as it blooms and not cutting it to the ground will give you not only more blooms but even bigger ones. thumbup


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
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Sunflowers #407954 Nov 16th, 2020 at 03:41 PM
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Will it keep maxing out at about the same height? I would like to keep
it from getting any higher than it has in the past. Would you suggest
cutting it only down to above the set of buds beneath the bloom?

Harry502 #407955 Nov 16th, 2020 at 06:20 PM
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The height depends on the variety...I had mine cut to form a tree. I just kept three strong branches as the main stalk and cut back blooms until the first or second set of buds. I then cut back any new growth from the base...it would slowly add growth over the years but never got taller than 6 to 7 ft in total.

If it gets taller than you'd like then cut it back a bit further the following year. thumbup


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
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Sunflowers #407962 Nov 17th, 2020 at 07:53 AM
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Thank you,
will do

Harry502 #408177 Dec 12th, 2020 at 12:42 AM
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I usually prune my hydrangea towards the height of winter and before spring. I monitor the weather on Climacell on my phone, and when I feel that this is as cold as it is gonna get, I get to pruning them. I do the same thing once I see the temperature has started to get warmer.


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