When you deadhead hydrangeas, the plant isn't being harmed. This process is done simply by using gardening tools easily.
Deadheading is necessary for removing spent blooms so that new ones can sprout, creating a vibrant, eye-soothing sensation in your yard or garden. Here, we have compiled 11 tips from experts to walk you through how and when to deadhead hydrangeas.
The main objective of plants is to reproduce. In our case, the hydrangea sprouts have been cut while they were working on producing mature seeds. Removing the spent blooms triggers them to stop putting their energy towards new bloom, root, and foliage development for survival to produce new seeds more "safely".
This makes them healthier and leads to more robust flowering next season, or in the same season for reblooming varieties.
Knowing your plant means knowing your path ahead. Know what kind of hydrangea you are working with and whether you have a reblooming variety. Deadheading reblooming hydrangeas, such as Panicle, Endless Summer, and Smooth, will guarantee an abundance of fall blooms.
However, late deadheading of old wood hydrangeas can remove their next season blooms, while new wood hydrangeas can be deadheaded at any time without any consequences.
To start deadheading hydrangeas safely and effectively, it is important to have the right tools before starting. As they say, "We are only as good as our tools." Without the right set of tools, your deadheading is negatively hampered and your safety is put at risk. So bottle up that lazy spell and do your due diligence.
Are you confused by multiple pruner types, such as anvil, rachet, bypass, and straight-blade pruners? We will clear it up below.
Anvils, owing to their anvil shape, i.e. one straight blade rested against a flat edge, are designed to crush rather than cut. This results in bruising and damages your delicate perennials. Their bulky shape also lacks the flexibility making you tire out quicker.
Despite being commonly stated as being used for removing deadwood, this is not the tool to deadhead. Deadhead only refers to the flowers while deadwood refers to the entire stem.
Rachet pruners are a slightly more expensive version of anvils that serve the same function but are more ergonomic, provide better leverage, and have a mechanism for cutting in stages.
This is a must-have for gardeners with weak hands and arthritis. or just improving the quality of life since you have an entire garden bed worth of hydrangeas to cut.
By observing the flowers, you can determine when it is time to deadhead your hydrangeas as the once-luxurious petals will start to dry and fade. Don’t wait too long, pass through your garden once or twice a week throughout the blooming season to maintain your hydrangeas' best appearance and promote the growth of new flowers.
You can deadhead New Wood hydrangeas during the growing season. Just be careful not to overstimulate the plant when it should be concentrating on getting ready for a winter nap, which is around August 15.
You can continue deadheading them after early spring, winter, and fall once they shed all of their leaves. However, you may cut off the newly formed flower buds for the current season if you wait too long in the spring.
Deadheading Old Wood varieties during the growing season is not required, as there is a case to be made for leaving the flowers to grow, allowing the dead flowers to shield buds and stems further down the plant like an umbrella during the winter.
Besides, when they catch ice and snow, they glisten and provide a mesmerizing sight. Be sure to quit by August, as this is when the plant begins to form buds for the following year.
Reblooming hydrangeas need to be deadheaded as soon as their spring or summer blooming cycle is over, lest you miss their reblooming cycle.
They only bloom in the same season due to missing flowerheads.
Locate the set of full-sized leaves beneath the spent flower head, and make your cut just above the first set of large leaves. Cutting too high results in a stump that turns unsightly, while cutting too low could potentially harm those leaves. Alternatively, you could cut above the designated area to test the cutting action of your pruners before you start deadheading.
While hydrangeas that bloom on new wood can be deadheaded more aggressively, varieties that bloom on old wood do not require deadheading. But if you desire to do so, follow the same procedure as for the old wood described above.
While observing the plant's stems, occasionally you will find some that are woody and dead down to the ground. They are "dead woods," and despite their name, your plant is not dying. This can occur naturally for various reasons, including aging and weather.
Make sure to remove these to the ground. Although this is not the same as deadheading (which is the removal of blooms), it will help the plant by removing any extra unnecessary growth and making overall maintenance easier.
As much as it can be good to deadhead hydrangeas, with various benefits to it. Knowing when to stop deadheading hydrangeas is equally crucial because doing so will cause more harm than good. To make it simple to understand, we have listed it again below.
Don't deadhead New Woods after August to prevent plant overstimulation and exhaustion after dormancy.
You may deadhead it again once after dormancy, i.e. all leaves have been shed. If you wait too late until spring, you risk cutting off the new blooms of the current season.
Don't deadhead Old Woods after August to prevent losing blooms for the next season. Not only will they shield any budding flowers, but they will also add winter appeal to your yard.
Don't deadhead even after dormancy.
Don't deadhead Rebloomers after their reblooming windows in spring or summer are missed.
You don't really have to worry about removing too many of your flowers when it comes to carefully deadheading and removing blooms. For example, you will not harm your hydrangea by pulling off all of the blooms; even half of the flowers are alive. So it matters very little if you do remove them.
The only thing you will lose is the beauty of the flowers and the aesthetics of your garden if they aren't rebloomers. Remember the container we mentioned before to collect the faded flowers? Here's what to do with them below.
Your hydrangeas still have beautiful blossoms, even if they have died and dried. Indeed, when they dry, the lovely hydrangea flowers still retain a more subdued version of their original hue. Instead of discarding them after deadheading, gather them in a container and then place them in a vase with some water. Keep the flowers in the vases until you are tired of looking at them.
You can place those vases around your house in various spots to freshen up your home and add a lovely flair of floral decor. Otherwise, you can also make bouquets out of them and send them to others as gifts.
Some people will use the words pruning, and deadheading interchangeably, which can make things confusing. Indeed, if this is also the case for you, allow us to clear your mind fog. If you are genuinely deadheading, you should limit your cutting to the first subsequent set of leaves from the stem of the dead flowers.
On the other hand, when a branch is pruned, either parts or all of the branch must be removed, along with any potential leaves and ungrown flower buds. Pruning hydrangeas is a more involved process, with certain hydrangeas preferring to be clipped to the ground, while others do not require pruning due to their more compact growth.
The main benefits of deadheading are solely aesthetic, as we have stated previously. The older flower buds on big leaf hydrangeas can shield the younger flower buds from windburn and frost damage, which is helpful, especially for less winter hardy species, and the dried frozen flowers still glisten beautifully in winter all the same.
However, if you are like us and you find it annoying to watch the dead hydrangea flowers roll around your garden all year long, go ahead and deadhead the blossoms. Simply put, you have the freedom to forget about deadheading without worrying, and some benefits to doing so!
The straight-blade pruner is the go-to tool for deadheading, having two straight blades with sharp edges on both sides, they make clean, precise cuts that prevent scarring and dead stumps that you get with anvil pruners.
They can reach places that are out of reach for bypass pruners but they should not be used to remove deadwood, as this will easily damage the straight blades.
Bypass pruners are a must-have tool with two curved blades that bypass each other like a scissor, with one of the edges sharp and the other dull. They are comfortable to use and versatile for multiple purposes.
They make neat, clean cuts like a straight blade or cut deadwood like an anvil pruner allowing you to substitute rachet/anvil and straight blade pruners. However, we recommend having a dedicated pruner for deadheading as deadwood dulls the blade.
Do not underestimate the importance of proper gardening gloves. Good, thick gardening gloves are a must-have accessory because they shield your hands from dirt, debris, thorns, and getting stabbed by hard deadwood.
"Wait, that's it?" Is that what you were thinking? Since you are working with dirt, having an open wound puts you at risk for tetanus as bacillus Clostridium Tetani is found in the soil.
Before you start cutting your hydrangeas, clean all the blades with a scouring pad to remove rust and plant residue. Then, test the cutting action of your designated deadheading pruner on a plant.
If the cut isn't nice and clean, it will cause dead stumps; hence, sharpen the blade using a sharpening carbine stone or a file tool. You may also have to tighten your pruners if the cut is still poor.
Wipe your pruners with a cloth swaddled in rubbing alcohol and allow them to dry before you can start. Keep the cloth handy to wipe the pruners after cutting a new plant.
This will keep the pruners free of bacteria and fungal spores, preventing diseases from spreading in your garden and between your hydrangeas.
Keep some empty containers nearby to hold the faded flowers and deadwood. Gardening always creates waste that needs cleaning up, this is especially true for deadheading.
However, there will be no waste to clean up if you don't cause a mess in the first place. Plus, don't underestimate the dried hydrangea deadheads' ability to roll away in a gust of wind.
Now that you have finished deadheading, it's time to think about the aftercare. Fertilize your hydrangeas to encourage new growth. Consult your local botanist regarding the type of fertilizer and the amount to be used.
If areas with freezing winter temperatures, apply a 12-inch layer of mulch to insulate your hydrangeas residing in the garden. If they are potted, move them into the garage or basement for the winter. Don’t remove the mulch or bring your container outside until you’re sure that frosty mornings have passed.
While it is understandable to be intimidated by the idea of deadheading your hydrangeas, don't be. The procedure is relatively straightforward and dare I say, pleasurable even. Not only will deadheading your hydrangeas once a week keep your garden looking fresh and lavishly vibrant, but it will also get you outside in the garden more often giving you more opportunities to bask in the splendid sight of blossoms.
The more you do it, the more you will end up wanting to deadhead, and you will be shocked at the impact that even a small gardening chore and the simple act of deadheading can have on the aesthetics in your garden to help create regal, never-ending illuminance.
