Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) This Hydrangea has big pink or blue globe-shaped or lace-cap flower clusters varieties include Endless Summer, Blushing Bride, Nikko Blue
Prune off last year's flower heads after the last spring frost.
If additional pruning is done in the spring, you'll lose all flower buds. Macrophyllas need extra protection from late spring frosts, or you may lose the blossoms.
NOTE: Endless Summer blooms on both old and new wood. Wait until done flowering to cut back. Late winter frosts can damage flower buds.
Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata)
varieties include PeeGee, Tardiva, Pink Diamond, Pinky Winky, Quickfire
These hydrangeas bloom later in the season on new wood. If pruning is necessary, do it in late winter/early spring. These varieties will also take more sun than the macrophyllas.
Annabelle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) also fit in this pruning catergory. They are easy to grow and can be cut way back (to 6 inches) in the spring and will quickly fill out and bloom on new wood.
Roses
Climbing Roses
The ideal shape for a climbing rose is one that has several strong stems (canes) arising from near the ground. Train them to grow out at angles, like a fan, not straight up. If your plant is already shaped like a fan, in spring before the buds swell, remove the largest of the canes near ground level. New buds should open at the base of the plant and, when growth reaches 6-12 inches, select the strongest shoot to be the replacement cane and snip out the others. At the same time you take out the largest cane, thin out the top and tie the remaining branches to the trellis. Once finished, the branches should be about 6 inches apart and flat against the arbor.
If your plant has just one shoot arising near the ground, you need to convert it to the fan shape gradually. That will take a year or two and may result in reduced bloom the first season. If you have lots of top growth and only blooms on the top, bite the bullet and thin out the top of the plant, reducing the height by 25%. The aim is to divert the plant's new growth into the lower side branches and to eliminate all shading from the base of the plant.
By following a regime of removing the oldest cane each spring and thinning and tying the top growth, you'll have beautiful blooms for years to come.
Burlington Garden Center 5205 Mormon Road (Hwy 36 South) Burlington WI 53105 262-763-2153 burlingtongc@sbcglobal.net
