How to get more hydrangea flowers in your garden

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Hydrangeas are a gorgeous addition to your garden, but nothing is more frustrating than a plant that isn’t blooming enough flowers. In order to spruce up your garden, you want to make sure you are taking proper care of your hydrangeas, and if you do so, you’ll have beautiful blossoms that will brighten up your yard.

While many factors go into growing healthy hydrangeas, one of the best ways to ensure you get plenty of blooms is by pruning to encourage new growth. However, the best time to prune your hydrangeas depends on what type of hydrangeas you have in your garden.

1. Panicle Hydrangeas

With paniculata or panicle hydrangeas, you can prune when you need to — except that you don’t want to prune as the flower buds are opening.

  • Make sure they are getting all-day sun
  • Water them when they’re not getting rainfall
  • Add compost liberally to the soil
  • Prune them often

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2. Smooth-Leaf “Annabelle” Hydrangeas

Because these hydrangeas bloom on new wood, it’s a good idea to prune them in late winter — or in late spring to encourage new growth.

  • Plant in full sun if the soil is moist or in partial shade if the soil is dry
  • Water them when they’re not getting rainfall
  • Use compost in the soil
  • Prune them in late winter or early spring

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3. Bigleaf Hydrangeas

Bigleaf hydrangeas should only be pruned after they bloom, and not later in the summer. Because new flower buds (which you don’t want to lose!) start forming late in the summer, University of Georgia Extension recommends not pruning these after Aug. 1.

  • Plant in half-day sun for normal soil or full sun if the soil is moist
  • Water them in spring and early summer, and let them stay drier in late summer and fall
  • Use compost on a yearly basis
  • Avoid pruning, but if you must, only do it in the summer

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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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