Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

New Hydrangea- should I cut back?

KmehKmeh Posts: 173
in Plants
I left some newly purchased hydrangea unwatered for almost a week and they were almost dead!  One hasn’t really recovered - some greenery has re-flourished at the top, so not dead, but looks pretty average at the base?

should I cut back now or wait till spring? It’s a limelight

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Limelight (as far as I know) flowers on new wood, so I think I'd leave it until the Spring.
    At least the leaves that remain are providing energy for the plant so they will help it grow stronger over the rest of this season, then prune back in Spring.



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd wait too, but just get them thoroughly soaked. Limelight is a paniculata so it gets pruned back harder in late winter/early spring, as @Pete.8 says. 
    If they're still potted [I'm guessing that's the case if they're so dry] you'll need to do the submersing in a container of water method to ensure proper hydration.
    If they're in the ground, you may have to look at how well the soil's retaining moisture for them. They need moisture retentive soil until really well established, when they can cope a bit better.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Thank you both - very helpful
Sign In or Register to comment.