A new Hydrangea arborescens Strong Annabelle has arrived with some of the buds knocked off. Disappointing! Can someone tell if you definitely do NOT get a flower if you prune back to a single bud instead of the preferred double bud???
I tend to prune them back to either single or double buds, without giving it much thought and there are always masses of flowers. Not sure if it's only the 'pair of bud' stems that then flower or not. Be really interested to know if that's the case so hopefully an expert can tell us 😊
I think it depends on the timing rather than how hard you prune or if you prune back to one bud rather then 2.
In past years, I've sometimes left it a bit late pruning my mopheads (late April) and I don't get flowers. If I prune earlier, I will get flowers, but a late frost may nip the flower buds and leaves in which case I get no flowers and leaves with crispy brown edges. If you get the timing just right you get lovely flowers and lovely leaves.
I pruned my mopheads yesterday and noticed that the frosts over the past week have damaged the leaves, so I may get flowers or I may not, but I will get leaves with crispy brown edges.
We can't be certain what the weather holds, so it's a case of hoping for the best.
I prefer the paniculatas - you can prune them any time until mid-late April and you will get lovely flowers and undamaged leaves regardless of the weather.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I have pruned my mophead hydrangeas this morning 🤞. I don't think with "Annabelle" it makes much difference about the single/double buds, my neighbour has one and as far as l know just prunes it without worrying about that. Always looks lovely.
I'm really inexperienced with hydrangeas. Managed to kill the last one I had. Have since found out it may have been due to pruning at the wrong time. Some flower on old stems and some on new. Also heard there's a new Annabell which is better at holding its head up. Not sure what it's called. Any insights?
Possibly 'Strong Annabelle' as mentioned in the opening post above. Strange name -- brings to mind 'Pansy Potter, the Strongman's Daughter' if anyone remembers her!
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In past years, I've sometimes left it a bit late pruning my mopheads (late April) and I don't get flowers.
If I prune earlier, I will get flowers, but a late frost may nip the flower buds and leaves in which case I get no flowers and leaves with crispy brown edges.
If you get the timing just right you get lovely flowers and lovely leaves.
I pruned my mopheads yesterday and noticed that the frosts over the past week have damaged the leaves, so I may get flowers or I may not, but I will get leaves with crispy brown edges.
We can't be certain what the weather holds, so it's a case of hoping for the best.
I prefer the paniculatas - you can prune them any time until mid-late April and you will get lovely flowers and undamaged leaves regardless of the weather.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I don't think with "Annabelle" it makes much difference about the single/double buds, my neighbour has one and as far as l know just prunes it without worrying about that. Always looks lovely.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/372603/hydrangea-arborescens-strong-annabelle-(-abetwo-pbr)/details
Strange name -- brings to mind 'Pansy Potter, the Strongman's Daughter' if anyone remembers her!