How to prune paniculate hydrangea in autumn: diagram and video for beginners

Pruning hydrangeas in paniculate autumn involves the removal of all old peduncles, as well as a rejuvenating cutting of shoots. It is better to do this about 3-4 weeks before the onset of the first frost. In order for the plant to recover well after the stress, it should be fed with potassium and superphosphates. In regions with frosty winters, you will need to make additional shelter.

Do I need to prune paniculate hydrangea in the fall

Paniculata hydrangea needs both spring and autumn pruning. Haircut for different purposes:

• forming – remove all shoots that clearly spoil the appearance, and also thin out the crown so that it is moderately dense;
• anti-aging – removal of old branches to stimulate the growth of new shoots in the spring;
• sanitary – removal of broken, dried shoots, as well as branches affected by diseases and pests.

In practice, panicle hydrangea pruning is carried out immediately to solve all these problems. Moreover, old and broken, dried up branches are removed both in autumn and in spring. Otherwise, the tasks of spring and autumn haircuts are different. Often, only faded panicles are pruned at the end of the season, and in the spring they do the rest of the work.

Unscheduled pruning may be required if the plant is damaged by strong winds or heavy rain.

Why do we need autumn pruning of paniculate hydrangea

The main purpose of pruning is to remove old flower stalks. Also, a haircut of panicled hydrangea in the fall is also needed for other purposes:

• preparation for winter;
• cleaning of damaged and diseased branches;
• stimulate active flowering next year.

The main purpose of pruning panicled hydrangeas in the fall is to remove panicles as well as dry branches.

When can you prune paniculate hydrangea for the winter

Pruning paniculate hydrangeas in the fall in the first year is optional. First, the bush is allowed to take root, after which they start cutting (as a rule, starting from 3-4 years). When choosing a specific period, one should first of all proceed from the climatic features of a particular region. The optimal time is the beginning of active leaf fall. And it is better to be in time before the first frosts. Therefore, the timing of pruning in the fall can be determined as follows:

1. In the middle lane and the Moscow region, this is the second half of September.
2. In the North-West and the Leningrad region, this is the first half of September.
3. In Southern Siberia and the Urals, haircuts start already in early September. And if the month is predicted to be cold, then at the end of August.
4. In the South of Our Country, pruning in autumn is carried out in the first half of October.

Also, when choosing the timing of pruning, you can be guided by the lunar calendar. It is advisable to work on a clear day with relatively warm weather (not lower than +7 degrees).

On the one hand, it is better to finish everything 3 weeks before the onset of frost. On the other hand, don’t start too early. In this case, new shoots may form, which will confidently grow and then freeze.

How to prune paniculate hydrangea for the winter

Pruning panicled hydrangea in the fall is carried out according to the traditional scheme: it is necessary to remove the flower stalks, that is, the panicles. At the next stage (spring) pruning, all other actions are performed:

• removal of damaged shoots – both broken and dried;
• anti-aging pruning – removal of all old shoots;
• pruning for lush flowering: shortening the apical shoots;
• thinning the bush to give it a beautiful shape.

Panicle hydrangea pruning scheme in autumn and spring

However, anti-aging pruning can be done not only in spring, but also in autumn. For this:

• significantly shorten all powerful side branches, leaving only 2 buds;
• leave only 2-3 strong branches on the bush (all shoots older than 4 years are cut off).

Thus, the main pruning occurs not in the fall, but in the spring. At the end of the season, simply remove the dried panicles. If necessary, you can also remove broken branches (for example, shoots damaged by strong winds).

As a result of pruning hydrangeas in paniculate autumn, only cut stumps remain on the bush: all peduncles are removed

Methods for autumn pruning hydrangeas

Formative pruning of the plant can be carried out both in spring and autumn. Most often, 3 options are used to get a beautiful bush:

1. Hydrangea on a stem.
2. Tall shrub with a spreading crown.
3. Low bush with a compact crown.

To the press

In the first case, it is enough to cut off all the lower shoots at a height of 50-60 cm – as soon as the bush reaches a height of at least 1-1,5 m. Most often, the formation begins from the 3rd year of the plant’s life, when the hydrangea grows enough and gets stronger. Standard pruning is done under a spherical or oval shape, which looks especially beautiful on the central shoot.

Another option is a haircut under the “weeping” hydrangea. Then the branches are first inclined to the ground and fixed for 1 season (from spring to autumn of the same year). A year later, the crown is thinned out at the weeping bush and weak shoots are removed.

For pruning on a stem, varieties such as Pink Diamond and Phantom are most suitable.

Mouth with spreading crown

This is the easiest way to fall pruning. Even with minimal care (watering and fertilizing), the paniculate hydrangea grows quite well, so the crown quickly thickens due to the appearance of new shoots. On the one hand, the bush looks very beautiful, but on the other hand, the more branches, the weaker the flower stalks, the smaller the flowers themselves.

Therefore, gardeners need to choose the golden mean so that the tree attracts both with greenery and inflorescences. To do this, it is recommended to shorten last year’s shoots by at least 3 buds annually. It is optimal if the (upper) bud remaining after pruning was directed outwards, and not inside the crown.

compact bush

In this case, during pruning, the shoots are significantly shortened. As a result, 3-5 pairs of kidneys should remain. Such a haircut is carried out in the fall only in regions with a relatively warm climate (including in the middle lane). For example, in the Urals and Siberia, it is better to do it in early spring, before the start of sap flow.

It is practical to carry out such pruning in small areas where there is little space.

For cutting a bush, it is most convenient to use a secateurs

Hydrangea panicle care after autumn pruning

Almost immediately after pruning, the paniculate hydrangea must be well prepared for the winter period. First of all, it is fed with superphosphate (70 g per 1 m²) and potassium sulfate (40 g per 1 m²). These fertilizers help increase the plant’s resistance to frost and temperature extremes.

In addition, 1,5 cups (300 g) of wood ash can be scattered around the trunk circle. After that, the earth is loosened so that the fertilizer penetrates deep into the soil. Thanks to this top dressing, paniculate hydrangea will recover much faster from the stress associated with pruning in the fall. In addition, nutritional supplements help strengthen the root system and ripen wood fibers.

Beginning gardeners can use ready-made mineral fertilizers according to the instructions, for example:

• “Fertika” (solution);
• “Pocon” (granules that are scattered over the surface);
• potassium magnesia (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of moderately warm water) – watering under the root of the plant.

Thanks to proper care, even after radical pruning, the hydrangea will be able to recover next spring.

Tips from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners regularly trim the paniculate hydrangea both in spring and autumn. However, they recommend paying attention to some features of this procedure. Thanks to their advice, many beginners will be able to avoid haircut mistakes:

1. During pruning, it is important to observe sterility. The blade of a pruner or garden shears is treated with any disinfectant (for example, iron sulfate or alcohol). Slices of paniculate hydrangeas must be sprinkled with crushed coal or wood ash. They can also be dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. When pruning panicled hydrangeas in autumn, it is necessary to carefully remove the flower stalks, leaving the top 2-3 buds. It is on them that young shoots will be born. Moreover, the higher they are, the more likely it is that flowers will grow on them.
3. Experienced gardeners do not recommend pruning a young panicled hydrangea (both in autumn and in spring). However, in case of emergency, you can remove broken branches, damaged and diseased shoots.
4. Despite the fact that many varieties of panicled hydrangeas have good winter hardiness, the roots must be mulched with spruce needles and peat. It is recommended to add humus and fallen leaves. The result should be a layer 15-20 cm high. It will not only protect the roots from the cold, but also nourish the plant. Additionally, you can spud the earth.
5. Despite the fact that the high hydrangea looks quite beautiful, it is better not to leave branches above 150 cm. They begin to bend under the weight of the inflorescences, besides, a strong wind can break them. Therefore, a short cut is preferred.
6. In regions with a harsh unpredictable climate (Urals, Siberia), you can additionally cover hydrangeas with burlap or spandbond. This is especially important for young seedlings under the age of 4-5 years.

After pruning in the fall, it is recommended not only to mulch the soil, but also to cover the paniculate hydrangea for the winter

Conclusion

Pruning hydrangeas in paniculate autumn is a mandatory procedure that is carried out starting from 3-4 years of the plant’s life. Usually, the main events are carried out in the spring, and in the fall it is important to remove the old flower stalks. But in such bushes, it is allowed to significantly shorten the shoots (rejuvenating pruning) so that the hydrangea is completely renewed in the new season.

A video will help to visually study the method of trimming panicled hydrangea in the fall for beginners: