Neal and Polly, It's getting to be that time of year. Do you think that maybe there could be some talk of what to prune now, especially among the Hydrangeas? Thanks.

That's a good idea Stormy, just before checking this Cubit today I was considering adding a Hydrangea forum. The paniculata types aren't as fussy as the mop heads about pruning, but I'm not sure what the recommendation is on the time of year that's best. I'll do some looking and see what I find. Most blooming shrubs are best pruned just after flowering, especially spring blooming shrubs.

This site has some good info:

http://www.hydrangeashydrangea...

Thanks, Neal. That's a good one. Two that always confuse me are Smoke Bush and Buddleia.

Do you mean confusing as far as pruning? I'm not sure about Smoke bush, but Buddleia is best cut back in spring. I actually prefer to cut mine way back, to about 12". Our winters used to be such that butterfly bushes were regularly killed back to the roots anyway, but the last several years that's not been the case. But I've still found that they have a prettier shape if I go ahead and cut them all the way back. One year I experimented, leaving 1 and cutting the others back, and they both started blooming at about the same time.

Yes, I was referring to the pruning. Last year I cut one of the Buddleia back and it did not take it well. Looks a mess this year. Some branches never recovered. It was one of the gold colored ones. I don't prune them very aggressively. They are growing in shade, so they don't get hugh. Neal, I'm afraid that for us in the Mid Atlantic, this is such a tough year to diagnose any problems as the weather has been so drastically different than normal.

I had read that Buddleia would continue to bloom if you dead head it. Last year I dead headed The "White Profusions". This year they hardly bloomed at all. Normally I would prune them in spring, but hardly any of them got any decent growth at all this summer.

Smoke Bush grew a lot and needs a severe cut back, both of them. I'm not sure of whether to do it now or in the spring.

Sometimes fall pruning can effect winter hardiness, so when in doubt, I'd go for spring. This site recommends spring pruning for smoke bush, but says they bloom on wood that is a couple of years old, and you may sacrifice some blooms. If the growth has to be at least 2 years old, then you'd be sacrificing blooms in fall or spring anyway.

I don't think last years dead heading of White Profusion would have effected the bloom this year, more likely something to do with the weather. Really though, don't be afraid to prune them aggressively- I just leave a stump. Its best to wait till you see signs of new growth in spring, then cut them back.

Neal, When you said "this site", what site were you referring to?

The one I forgot to post, LOL.

http://hsny.blogspot.com/2007/...

Thanks, Neal. That's a good article. These plants have been a mystery because of the irregular blooming. Now I see that it may have been due to the pruning.

I prune my buddliea back after I see new growth in the spring. Here it usually dies back to the snow line. But if you wait until you see new growth in the spring, Mary, and cut it back to there, it will still grow to over 6 feet, unless you have the mini ones.

As far as Hydrangea paniculata goes, I prune mine in spring, which normally only consists of cutting the dead flower heads off, but sometimes I cut back a little more. Early spring, when you're starting to clean up the garden. I don't think you can hurt those, though. Prune pretty much anytime.

Polly, I keep forgetting, paniculatas are mopheads, right?

No, paniculatas are like Limelight, Quickfire, Little Lamb, those kinds.

OK thanks, Are the mopheads the macrophylias?

Yes. Unfortunately not hardy here.

LOL Polly, they are winter hardy here, but unfortunately quite a few turned out not to be summer hardy here this year. Sheesh!