An annabelle hydrangea is a cross between an oak leaf hydrangea and an H. arborescens, which is also known as the lacecap hydrangea. These shrubs are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, and they can grow to be 6 feet tall and wide. They have large leaves that are shaped like oaks, but they have a much smaller leaf size than the oak variety.
How To Prune Annabelle Hydrangea
Here is the complete process explained in detail on how to prune annabelle hydrangea:
1. Remove dead, diseased or damaged wood.
Remove any suckers that sprout from the base of the plant.
These are shoots that grow out from the rootstock and should be removed as soon as they appear so they don’t take energy away from the rest of the plant. Use pruning shears to cut them off at ground level.
2. Thin out canes so they are spaced 6 to 12 inches apart.
This will give your hydrangea room to grow and help prevent disease problems in future years by allowing air circulation around all parts of the plant. It will also help you see where new growth is developing so you’ll know where to cut back in step 4 below.
Step 3:
3. Cut back each stem by one-third to one-half its total length if it has grown too tall and leggy, or if it is growing into another stem, causing a “mushroom” effect (this is called heading back). If you want shorter stems, just make sure each stem gets cut back by about one-third its total length (for example, if you want stems 3 feet tall, cut them back to 2 feet). You can do this at any time during the year but fall is best for reasons explained below:
4 – Prune hydrangea after flowering for best results:
Hydrangeas flower on new wood; therefore it’s best to prune after flowering when there are no leaves on the shrub so that you can clearly see where new growth is emerging from buds along each stem. Pruning after flowering also reduces water loss through leaves which helps protect against winter damage in cold climates (in warm climates there’s not much reason to prune after flowering because it won’t get cold enough for winter damage).
Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs native to Asia and some parts of Europe that have been widely cultivated since 1752 when they were introduced into England from Japan where they originated centuries earlier. There are more than 200 species and cultivars of hydrangea but only a few types are commonly grown in gardens today including anemone-flowered hydrangeas (Hibiscus syriacus), oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) , panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) , lacecaps (Hydrangea arborescens) , mopheads (Hydrangea macrophylla) , and laceleafs (Hydrangea serrata).
All types bloom on old wood with flowers appearing before or with leaves in spring followed by attractive seed heads in fall . They require full sun with adequate moisture throughout their growing season but tolerate dry soil once established . They prefer acidic soils with a pH between 5 and 7 .
Pruning Tips for anemone-flowered hydrangeas:
These plants have small white flowers surrounded by large green bracts that look like petals – hence their name anemone-flowered hydrangeas – which appear in early summer on previous year’s wood . The most common variety is H . syriacus var . indicus which has pink flowers and grows up to 20 feet tall but there are other varieties such as H . syriacus var . carneus with red flowers; H . syriacus var . viridiflorus with white flowers; H . syriacus var . roseus with light pink flowers; H . syriacus var . albus with white flowers; H . syriacus ‘Album’ which has pure white flowers; and H . syriacus ‘Roseum’ which has pinkish white flowers among others depending on your climate zone, soil type, exposure, etc.
Pruning these plants should be done right after flowering while there are no leaves present on the shrub so that you can clearly see where new growth is emerging from buds along each stem allowing you to easily identify which canes need pruned this season based on how many buds remain along each cane compared with last year’s growth pattern.
Then remove one-third or one-half of each cane depending on how tall it grew compared with last year plus any suckers at ground level using lopping shears or hedge clippers according to whether your goal is shorter or taller plants respectively: For shorter plants remove one-third of each cane plus any suckers at ground level For taller plants remove one-half of each cane plus any suckers at ground level Also thin out all remaining stems leaving only three per plant spaced 6 inches apart Trim off any dead branches close to the main trunk using hedge clippers
To keep your anemone blooming longer repeat this process every two years starting right after flowering again until no more flowers appear Although these plants bloom best when planted in full sun they will tolerate partial shade although flower color may not be as vibrant In mild winter areas these plants may die down completely
Tips for How To Prune Annabelle Hydrangea
Here are 5 things to take care of with respect to how to prune annabelle hydrangea:
1. You should prune your hydrangea once a year in late winter or early spring. Cut back the stems to about 6 inches from the ground and remove any dead, diseased, or broken branches.
2. Use sharp pruning shears to cut off the stems of your hydrangea. Make sure you sterilize them first so that you don’t spread diseases around!
3. Trim any long shoots that are growing from the base of your hydrangea plant. The purpose of this is to make sure that the plant doesn’t get too big for its container and also to encourage new growth at the center of your plant instead of on the outside edges.
4. Remove any suckers (shoots) coming out of the ground below your hydrangea bush as well! This will help stop them from taking over your garden bed!
5. If you have a large hydrangea bush, you can trim it down into a smaller shape by cutting off some branches here and there until you get it looking like what you want it to look like! Just remember not to cut off more than one-third of its size at one time!
FAQs
Interesting Facts About Hydrangea
Here are 5 things you should know about hydrangea:
1. Hydrangea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to woodland and shrubland in Asia, Europe, and North America. In Japan, it is known as kakitsubata.
2. There are about 30 species of hydrangea native to eastern Asia and two or three species native to western North America. The great majority of hydrangeas grown in gardens are cultivars of H. arborescens and H. macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea).
3. The term “hydrangea” is derived from the Greek words hydro (water) and angos (vessel), meaning “water vessel” because the flower has an appearance similar to that of a water pitcher or vase.
4. Hydrangeas are not only popular for their beautiful flowers but also for their ability to survive cold weather better than most other plants do, making them excellent additions to your winter garden! Their large leaves can be used as cuttings for indoor arrangements during the winter months when they aren’t blooming outdoors!
Annabelle Hydrangea is a vigorous grower and will need to be pruned in the spring. Annabelle Hydrangea can be pruned at any time of the year, but we recommend late winter or early spring for best results. If you are just trimming your hydrangea’s shape, removing 1/3 of the oldest stems is sufficient. If you are shaping your hydrangea, you may want to remove up to 50% of the oldest stems. After pruning, water your hydrangea well and apply a good fertilizer.
How do I get rid of aphids on my Annabelle Hydrangea?
Aphids are small insects that suck plant juices from leaves causing them to curl and distort. Aphids can also spread disease among plants by moving from one plant to another. The most common way to control aphids is with an insecticidal soap spray applied every 2-3 weeks during the growing season when temperatures are above 60 degrees F. You should also prune out infected leaves and branches as soon as possible after infestation occurs to prevent spread of disease.
If you don’t prune Annabelle hydrangeas, they will grow tall and lanky. They can also take over your garden. Pruning your Annabelle hydrangeas keeps them bushy and compact.
How often should you prune Annabelle hydrangeas?
Annabelle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, so if you want a constant supply of flowers, you need to prune them back every year after the blooms fade. If you want to keep your shrub in a certain size or shape, prune it back every 3-4 years.
In the fall, you can cut back your Annabelle hydrangeas by about one-third. This is a good way to control the size of the plant as well as keep it from getting too leggy. Make sure that you remove any dead or broken branches at this time. You can also use a hedge trimmer to trim off any large stems that are growing out of bounds.
What are some tips for caring for Annabelle hydrangeas in winter?
Annabelle hydrangeas do best when they have plenty of water during the winter months. You should water them whenever they dry out, which should be once a week or so depending on how cold it is outside. If it’s very cold, you might need to water them more often than that. You should also make sure that they have enough light during the winter and if they don’t get enough light, they will start to lose their leaves and may even die back completely.
They need to be staked. I use a garden cane, cut it down to about 18 inches and stick it in the ground next to the shrub. Then I tie the stem of the shrub to it with pantyhose or soft cloth strips. You can also use plastic ties that are sold for that purpose. The idea is just to give them a little support so they don’t flop over.
Q: My hydrangea has leaves that are turning yellow and dropping off. What’s causing this?
A: It could be a variety of things, but most likely it’s lack of water during dry spells, as well as not enough sun or fertilizer. They like full sun and they need regular watering during hot weather — at least once a week if you don’t get rain. And they need fertilizer every year — either one with slow-release nutrients or one specifically made for hydrangeas (sold in spring).