Nature Hills Gardening Neighborhood

 How much and when do I prune to maximize the blooms on my Nikko Blue Hydrangea?  I have a beautiful healthy looking plant but for the past two years, all I can get is one bloom each season (it has never produced more than one).  I have read that it is supposed to bloom on large buds formed on growth from the previous season.  I'm not sure what that means.  Do I prune it down close to the ground in the fall or do I leave stems several inches tall or do I prune it at all???  When and where would these large buds appear  - in the spring or in the fall, on the stem or leaves?  I could use some help from a Hydrangea expert.  Would someone please respond to my dilemma?

Carol

Forgot this.  I am in zone 5 NW Ohio.

Hi Carol,

The Nikko Blue is a Hydrangea macrophylla (aka bigleaf hydrangea's) and new blooms develop on old wood as you suggested.

Bigleaf type hydrangea set their flower buds at the ends of the upright or lateral branches, during late summer to early fall. Pruning Bigleaf hydrangea in the spring or even late fall, after the buds have been set, will remove the flower buds and any chance of getting flowers that season.

Bigleaf hydrangea should be pruned as soon as the flowers have faded. You should begin to see new growth coming in from the base of the plant. To keep the plant vigorous, selectively prune out the dead and weaker stems, both old and new. Don’t prune out all the old wood, since this is what will keep flowering as the new growth matures.

Hope this helps!

 Jeff,

I appreciate the response and YES it does help.  It appears we have been over-pruning.  I hope we can have more blooms next year.  Thanks again.