| 1. Which parts of my hydregnas do I cut off? 2. What is the latest time I can plant roses on Eastern Long Island and have them bloom? |
| Most of the big leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) bloom only on old wood. Pruning in the spring, fall or winter will remove flowering wood for the coming bloom season. So spring pruning should be limited to removing only truly dead stems. If your plants need additional pruning, wait and do it right after they bloom in the summer. Container grown roses can be planted any time the ground is not frozen, as long as they have been kept outdoors and are acclimated. Dormant bare root roses can be planted until late spring. (Until planting day, the plants must be kept dormant by storing them in a location that is above freezing but below 45 degrees.) When planting bare root roses, mound soil up over the bare canes and gradually remove it as the plant comes out of dormancy. This helps prevent it from drying out while it is initially rooting. Take care to keep the soil evenly moist (not sopping wet) while they are becoming established. Hybrid tea roses and most landscape roses should bloom the same season they are planted. Some of the old fashioned roses may not bloom until their second year in the ground. |
