How do i prune annabelle hydrangeas

M Plant does not flower in March. A Plant does not flower in April. M Plant does not flower in May. J Plant does not flower in June. J Plant does flower in July. A Plant does flower in August.

S Plant does flower in September. O Plant does not flower in October. N Plant does not flower in November. D Plant does not flower in December. J Do not Take cuttings in January. F Do not Take cuttings in February. M Do not Take cuttings in March. A Do not Take cuttings in April. M Do not Take cuttings in May. J Do Take cuttings in June. J Do Take cuttings in July. A Do not Take cuttings in August. S Do not Take cuttings in September. O Do not Take cuttings in October.

N Do not Take cuttings in November. This can become a problem so severe that the entire shrub is flattened.

Here are a few tricks one can use with all large blooming arborescens to reduce and even eliminate the problem. Plant Annabelle next to a decorative fence. This is one of the best ideas we've seen for staking the heavy blooms of Hydrangea arborescens.

Plant at least three Annabelle shrubs together. As Annabelle's mature they will grow together and support one another somewhat. Plant them three to four feet apart. Prune plants only sparingly.

If your hydrangeas tend to flatten in the rain, it may help to prune Annabelle to about 18"" tall rather than cutting it to the ground every year. This will allow the stems to thicken a little each year, becoming stouter and better able to support the other branches and blooms. In addition, the heads will be more plentiful but slightly smaller not so small that you will be disappointed. The slightly smaller heads will be less likely to droop.

If you live in a more northern area, you may not be able to use this tip. The Annabelle stems may not survive the winter, and thus they will be new from the ground each year. Put a short wire fence around each plant. If young Annabelle plants are surrounded by wire fencing before they put out new branches in the spring, the blooms will be held up off the ground.

Garden centers often sell short 18" , green wire fencing for lining flower beds. Cut these into lengths that would encircle the base of the Annabelle sort of like a short tomato cage.

Then when the Annabelle leafs out, the wire is completely hidden. The Annabelle Hydrangea grows blooms on new wood each year. These shrubs are vigirous bloomers, and can handle aggressive pruning. However, as stated above, only prune to 18"" if you would like the plant to have stronger limbs.

So late winter or early spring is the time to prune. Just look for the first set of fat new buds, as in the picture above, and prune back the stem to just above this new growth. If you have a lusty plant and want to keep it contained, you can cut back drastically — almost to the ground — in late winter before the new growth appears.

Or you can leave more of the main woody stem, as I do, to give the heavy heads more support in my shade-challenged garden. Be careful, though. Not all hydrangeas flower on new wood. She also gives you gives you a handy guide on identifying your hydrangeas so you know which is which. Helen Battersby is a gardener, a writer, a power-walker and a garden coach, not always in that order! OK, maybe a really stupid question, but is the "first set of new fat buds" the first set up buds closest to the base of the plant or the first set up buds closest to the tip of the stem?

Can you tell I am a newbie??