Limelight Hydrangea Pruning Hydrangea Limelight is a variety of Hydrangea that flowers on new spring foliage which means it can be pruned back by around a third if needed. A branch-headed standard is a tree or shrub pruned and trained to have a rounded “mop” head of branches atop a clear stem. We want our limelight hydrangea to have a rounded crown atop a smooth, straight trunk – like a lollipop. If the buds are set in the fall, spring pruning will remove the entire season's bloom. (If you want more – but not larger – blooms, leave more of the thinner, internal stems. All Rights Reserved. 'Limelight' is occasionally attacked by slugs, … Deciduous trees lose their leaves in early winter and will flush out new growth in early spring. The best time to prune any variety of hydrangea is mid- late winter. Although the florets look similar to those of bigleaf hydrangeas, Limelight has teardrop-shaped bloom clusters and blooming starts later in the summer. Since the panicle hydrangeas (including Limelight) bloom on new wood that develops in the current season, they can be pruned any time of the year without cutting off future flower buds. Make your pruning cuts just above paired buds; these buds will become two new branches growing opposite each other. Hydrangeas bloom on a single stem. Big-leaf hydrangeas, Hydrangea macrophyla: These are the most common species and include the popular mopheads and lacecaps in wide-ranging colors of blue, violet, pink, purple, red and white.They bloom in early summer on old wood, so prune them after flowering. Limelight hydrangeas are a popular and hardy flowering shrub with dramatic blooms that range from green to white to pale pink across a long flowering season. When to prune a hydrangea depends on when it sets its flower buds. ). Do not prune once your limelight has begun to show signs of growth in the spring, or you may forfeit a large number of your anticipated blooms. Each year, prune your Limelight hydrangea back by ⅓ of its overall height to encourage new growth. Limelight hydrangeas grow on new growth, and should be pruned between growing seasons. Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) include PeeGee hydrangeas and ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Tie it to the stake every few inches. It can be done though! Pruning hydrangeas is often likened to pruning buddlejas which are cut down hard every spring once the worst of the weather is over. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Fine Gardening Magazine; Pruning Hydrangeas; Janet Carson, Hydrangeas! Limelight Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are among the more forgiving members of the hydrangea family with regard to pruning. Pruning Hydrangeas that Bloom on Old Wood Most shrubs that bloom on old wood should be pruned immediately after they are done flowering. Some people like to produce very large flower heads, up to 18 inches in length. Limelight hydrangeas grow on new growth, and should be pruned between growing seasons. The remaining stubs will be only a couple of inches above the ground. Native to the North American woodlands, it is… Fighting Off Pests Check your plant for pest activity. Shrubs that flower on new wood generally start blossoming later than old wood bloomers. Your yard will thank you after pruning this shrub into its tree form or just purchasing the already trained tree. When you prune a limelight hydrangea be sure to do it at the beginning of Spring or at the end of winter. Prune in late winter/early spring when your plant is winterized. Hydrangeas that set their buds late in the season are the most likely to have trouble blooming. Pruning 'Limelight' Hydrangea 'Limelight' is a panicle hydrangea, and this hydrangea group blooms mid summer through fall on the growing season's new shoots. However, it is easiest to prune them in the late winter or early spring, because all of the leaves will have fallen off and you will be able to see and access the branches easily. We like to prune in late winter when the shrub is still leafless so we have the best view of the branch structure. Because this shrub blooms on new wood, you do not want to potentially cut off any flower buds for the upcoming season. It may take a year or two. But we can do better. Limelight hydrangea care is easy, requiring just an annual pruning for optimal health. Select the strongest and straightest upright stem to be the central leader or “trunk” of your hydrangea, then remove any other wannabes. Limelight hydrangeas are a cultivar with a longer blooming season than most hydrangea plants. Remove side branches on the lower two-thirds of the main stem as they appear. Cut your hydrangea canes back to about half to one third of its height if you prefer sturdier stems and smaller flowers. Copyright © 2020 Perfect Plants. We here at Perfect Plants already went through the motions for you and have a Limelight Hydrangea Tree for sale for those who do not want to try out this gardening endeavor. Since it has no competition, the chosen trunk-to-be will grow faster and stronger, and soon will be a genuine trunk. The Limelight hydrangea blooms on new growth, so it should be pruned in late winter, before new growth begins. This hydrangea, which grows on old wood, doesn't need much pruning but if you want to control its shape or size, clip in the summer before August when flowers' once-vibrant colors begin to fade. To do this remove all the thinner stems, leaving just a framework of a few thick stems. The big thing is to not sweat it! ; Pruning Made Easy (Hopefully); Judith King. If not, you may need to use a stake to keep the anointed stem growing straight up. 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