Your Letters 2 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 In looking back over your Nov-Dec Michigan Gardener magazine article I notice the picture of an Oakleaf hydrangea that had been cut back. I have a panicle hydrangea likely 20 years old that likes to grow up to ten feet or so in the summer. I cut it back to about five feet, in late fall, but am afraid to go much lower because the limbs are getting pretty big, and there are not that many of them. Will cutting it back even lower force the plant to put out lower branches? It is pretty bare for the bottom two or three feet, then shoots up tons of new branches above that. - J.G. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Janet Macunovich 32 Report post Posted February 12, 2013 We routinely cut certain panicle hydrangeas (those that can't be allowed to reach the normal 10-12') all the way to stubs, just above ground level and they come back from below the cut. If the plant is older and/or has some borer damage in the trunks it's developed, it may not respond with as much vigor as one that has been cut regularly, but if it's in good health it should come back and do that increasingly well each year afterward. Cut it April 1 and there should be new shoots in 3-4 weeks. Vigor will also affect the amount of new growth - if it's vigorous the brand new shoots will probably be 4' tall by bloom time in August. Bloom time will be a little later than usual. Here's one Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva' that's routinely cut to the ground April 1, to show you bloom time size (early August). Also, If you can add a picture of YOUR hydrangea I and others might answer more specifically. - Janet - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sharon W. 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2013 Last year I experimented with a tardiva that was about 10yr's old but only removed 1/2 the stems. It worked great! Looks like the start of a bonsi for my jap. garden.Thanks Janet for all your great advice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patti 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2013 Will this work for Lime Lights that were planted right after they were introduced 8 - 10 years ago? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee 1 Report post Posted March 24, 2013 I have a 6yo Limelight and Quick Fire hydrangeas that I prune the same way Janet describes, and I end up with a 5-6 ft shrub with a little bit later flowers. I gave the shrubs 6ft spacing when I planted them, but without pruning they become too big for the space. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Janet Macunovich 32 Report post Posted February 17, 2016 More about pruning these plants, with lots of photos at Prune Panicle Hydrangea. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
