scricht
Newly Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 8:52 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Help me with our hydrangea

Hello,

My wife and I bought a new house last September. The front corner near the driveway has a beautiful hydrangea that blooms blue. Unfortunately, the previous owners didn't seem to do the appropriate pruning. And we just had a baby a few months ago, so lawncare/gardening hasn't been a priority.

The hydrangea has really exploded over the last month or so and has overtaken the walkway to our front door. I am dying to prune it ... it's totally out of control. I have included a link to a Flickr photo of the hydrangea. I know nothing about gardening, and I don't want to kill it. But I want to take care of this as soon as I can because it looks ridiculous. Can anyone offer some tips/advice? Is it OK for me to prune now? We are in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area, and it's starting to turn hot here (90+, which is what it will be much of the summer).

Thanks for any help you can provide!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/27731688@N08/4704970522/in/set-72157624159996963/

luis_pr
Greener Thumb
Posts: 824
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:31 am
Location: Hurst, TX USA Zone 7b/8a

Wow, this mophead is starting to get big enough so it is a safety hazard. Prune it now, actually any time before the end of month. In July, it begins to develop flower buds for Spring 2011 so timing may be important. If you prune by the end of June, you stand a chance of getting almost normal bloomage.

The best time for a big haircut is when the shrub is dormant, meaning winter but go for it since it could trip someone carrying a baby.

Here is a link with more information: https://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/pruning.html



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