How to Prune Endless Summer Hydrangea Tips

Have you been captivated by the charm of the Endless Summer hydrangea? These bigleaf hydrangeas, with their vibrant blooms and lush foliage, are a stunning addition to any garden. Check out this guide on how to prune endless summer hydrangea tips.

What is Endless Summer Hydrangea?

Endless Summer hydrangea is a revolutionary type of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) that blooms both on new wood and old wood.

This unique characteristic ensures that even after a harsh winter or accidental pruning at the wrong time, these resilient shrubs will still produce their stunning flowers throughout the summer and into fall.

How to Prune Endless Summer Hydrangea

Understanding the right pruning techniques is essential to ensure they thrive and continue to beautify your outdoor space year after year. 

Endless Summer hydrangeas require minimal pruning compared to other varieties. The key to successful pruning is understanding when and how to do it properly.

When to Prune This Type of Hydrangea

• Avoid fall pruning: Pruning in the fall can remove the flower buds set for next year’s blooms.
• Best time to prune: Early spring, just as the new leafy growth starts to appear on the stems. This timing allows you to see which parts of the plant survived the winter and are producing new growth.

Pruning Techniques for These Flowering Plants

1. Identify dried brown buds: These are old blooms or deadwood that didn’t survive the winter. Prune these just above where the new, green buds are forming on the stem.
2. Preserve green buds: Avoid cutting off any green buds, especially on the lower part of the stem, as these will develop into this season’s flowers.
3. Encourage new growth: Lightly pruning, or deadheading, spent flowers during the growing season can encourage more blooms.

Remember, too much pruning can reduce the number of flowers, so when in doubt, less is more with Endless Summer hydrangeas.

When to Prune Endless Summer Hydrangeas

Here are some more tips on when and how to prune Endless Summer hydrangeas throughout the year.

Spring

• Remove deadwood: Before new growth appears, it is a good idea to remove any dead or damaged branches.
• Cut back old stems: Cut back the previous year’s blooms to a pair of healthy buds. This will encourage new growth and more flowers for the upcoming season.

Summer

• Deadhead spent blooms: To promote continuous blooming, remove spent flowers by cutting just above the first set of healthy leaves.

Fall

• Avoid pruning in the fall:  As mentioned earlier, pruning in the fall can remove buds set for next year’s blooms. Instead, focus on cleaning up any fallen leaves and debris around the base of the plant to prevent disease or pests.

Winter

• Protect from winter damage: In colder climates, apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to protect it from harsh winter temperatures. This will also help regulate soil moisture and prevent weeds from competing with the hydrangea for nutrients.
• Avoid heavy pruning: While it may be tempting to cut back the plant to tidy up your garden, avoid heavy pruning in the winter as this can leave the plant vulnerable to frost damage.

Other Tips for Pruning Endless Summer Hydrangeas

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when pruning Endless Summer hydrangea bushes:

• Sterilize your tools: Before and after pruning, make sure to disinfect your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of disease.
• Prune for shape: If you want a more compact or formal shape, prune lightly throughout the year. For a more natural, bushy shape, only prune when necessary to remove dead or damaged branches.
• Prune young plants lightly: Young Endless Summer hydrangeas may not require any pruning in their first year. In the second and third years, light pruning can help shape the plant and encourage healthy growth.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of pruning Endless Summer hydrangeas. Remember, minimal and strategic pruning is key to keeping these beautiful shrubs healthy and blooming year after year. Happy gardening! 

Endless Summer Hydrangea Care

Beyond pruning, there are other care considerations to keep in mind:

• Light: Partial to full sun is ideal.
• Soil: Well-drained, moist soil with good organic content. 
• Water: Regular watering to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
• Temperature and Humidity: Endless Summer hydrangeas thrive in a wide range of temperatures but prefer a bit of protection from the hottest afternoon sun.
• Fertilizer: A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring can support healthy growth and blooms.

Endless Summer Varieties

There are several types of hydrangea in the Endless Summer series, each with its unique charm:

1. Original Bigleaf Hydrangea: This classic variety of bigleaf hydrangea features stunning mophead flowers (mophead hydrangeas) that come in shades of pink, blue, or white, adding a touch of elegance to any garden.
2. Summer Crush: With its vibrant raspberry red or neon purple flowers, Summer Crush hydrangea adds a bold and eye-catching element to your garden, perfect for creating a focal point or adding a pop of color among your garden plants.
3. Blushing Bride: This variety is known for its large, pure white flowers that gradually turn blush pink as they mature, creating a beautiful ombre effect that adds a soft, romantic feel to your garden.
4. Twist-n-Shout: Featuring lacecap flowers and sturdy stems, Twist-n-Shout hydrangea offers a unique twist on the traditional mophead hydrangea, adding texture and interest to your garden beds or borders.
5. Pop Star: True to its name, Pop Star hydrangea produces large, showy pink or blue blooms that transform colors based on how much alkaline is in the soil, making it a dynamic and ever-changing addition to your garden.
6. BloomStruck: With its huge, vibrant purple or pink blooms, BloomStruck hydrangea makes a bold statement in any garden, adding a touch of drama and sophistication to your outdoor space.

Each variety of Endless Summer hydrangea offers its own unique charm, allowing you to create a personalized and colorful garden that reflects your style and personality with their big blooms and flower clusters among dark green leaves.

How to Get Blue Blooms from Your Hydrangea Plants: 

While Endless Summer hydrangeas are known for producing blooms in various colors, many gardeners may be interested in changing the color of their hydrangea blooms. The process for getting blue blooms from your hydrangea plants involves manipulating the soil pH to make it more acidic.

To achieve blue blooms, the soil pH should be 5.5 or less. This can be achieved by adding aluminum sulfate or sulfur to the soil. It is important to follow the instructions on the product carefully and avoid over-fertilizing, as this can damage the plant.

For pink blooms, the soil pH should be slightly more alkaline, around 6.5 or higher. This can be achieved by adding lime or wood ashes to the soil. Again, it is important to follow instructions and avoid over-fertilizing.

It’s important to note that not all hydrangea varieties can change their bloom color based on soil pH. The Endless Summer series, however, has been bred specifically for this ability.

It may take some trial and error with alkaline soils to get a blue hydrangea or one with plenty of pink color, but once you know the right amounts of pH to add to your soil, you will enjoy a reblooming hydrangea in your choice of pink or blue flowers for the following season.

With proper care and pruning, your Endless Summer hydrangeas will continue to produce beautiful blooms year after year. Whether you prefer a more compact shape or a natural, bushy look, minimal and strategic pruning is key for keeping these plants healthy and thriving.

With their range of vibrant colors and resistance to pests and diseases, they are sure to be a stunning addition to any garden or landscape.  So go ahead and enjoy your Endless Summer hydrangeas, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors by adjusting the soil pH! 

Pests and Diseases

Endless Summer hydrangeas are generally hardy and resistant to pests and diseases. However, some common issues that may arise include:

• Aphids: These small insects feed on the sap of the plant and can cause damage if left untreated. Get rid of these garden pests with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
• Powdery Mildew: This fungal disease appears as a white, powdery substance on the leaves and can cause them to curl and deform. It can be treated with fungicides or by improving air circulation around the plant. Proper pruning and avoiding overhead watering can also help prevent powdery mildew.
• Botrytis Blight: This fungal disease causes brown spots and wilting on the plant’s leaves and flowers. It can be treated with fungicides, but prevention is key by keeping the plant well-spaced and not overcrowded.
• Root Rot:  This disease is caused by over-watering and poorly drained soil. It can be prevented by ensuring proper watering practices and good plant drainage.

By regularly inspecting your plants, you can catch and treat any potential issues before they become a bigger problem. In general, keeping your Endless Summer hydrangeas healthy with proper care and pruning will also help prevent pest and disease issues.

How to Prune Endless Summer Hydrangea FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions you may have about pruning your Endless Summer hydrangea:

When should I prune Endless Summer hydrangea?

As mentioned earlier, the best time to prune is early spring when new leafy growth starts to appear on the stems.

How do you keep Endless Summer hydrangeas blooming all summer?

Aside from proper pruning, keeping your Endless Summer hydrangeas blooming all summer requires regular watering, fertilizing, and protecting them from extreme temperatures. Deadheading spent blooms can also encourage more flowers to develop.

Do you deadhead Endless Summer hydrangea?

Yes, deadheading spent blooms can encourage more flowers to develop and keep your Endless Summer hydrangea looking tidy and healthy.

How do you prune summer blooming hydrangeas?

The techniques for pruning summer blooming hydrangeas, like Endless Summer hydrangea, are similar. Prune in early spring, removing any deadwood and preserving green buds for this season’s blooms. Avoid heavy pruning to allow for maximum flower production.

Conclusion

By understanding how to prune Endless Summer hydrangea correctly and providing the right care, you can enjoy the endless beauty of these hydrangeas season after season.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a homeowner looking to enhance your landscape, the Endless Summer hydrangea offers a low-maintenance, high-reward addition to any garden.