Re: Pruning Hydrangeas -Reply

At 03:04 PM 3/10/98 -0500, Laura Sorochan wrote:
>We have a Nikko Blue hydrangea that has never bloomed over the couple
>of years that we've had it.  Late last spring, I trimmed back all of the dead
>looking wood (it looked very dead) and then found out that my bush was
>probably going to bloom off of that wood (I can't see how, but that's
>what I was told).  It grew a only a little bit (maybe to one and a half feet
>high, but never showed any signs of blooms) during the season.  It is not
>in deep shade, but receives only mostly dappled sunshine each day
>(maybe one hour of direct sun).  My husband wants to get rid of the
>bush this year and never get another one... please help!   Must it be
>moved, and should I ever need to prune this bush (I will NEVER do it
>again unless I have to), when should it be done?  Thanks for any
>suggestions....
>
>Laura Sorochan
>Montreal, Quebec

Hi Laura, 
        Please don't discard your beautiful H.'Nikko Blue', it is considered
to be a very choice Hydrangea and perhaps the best of the blues.  I was
taught that you prune only the stems that have a dried flower on the end of
it.  Otherwise, if you prune away all the stems, you cut off the potential
flowers for the new season. Be sure to prune back to a pair of buds.  In
reality, you only need to prune your shrub to make a pleasing shape. I
always wait until I can see the buds swelling on the stems before I prune.
Here in zone 8, just about now is the right time to prune.
          Your "mostly dappled sunshine" sounds ideal.  If the plant is
getting too much sun, you will be able to tell--it will look sunburned and
the flowers will wilt. You will need to give it summer water also if you
don't have regular rain during the summer months.  Try feeding it with a
balanced fertilizer when growth resumes.  Some extra phosphate will help to
set blooms.  To keep your blue flowers blue, your soil needs to be acid.Have
faith, it will bloom. Marilyn
Marilyn Dube'
NATURAL DESIGN PLANTS
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, Oregon


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