Tips For Pruning Endless Summer Hydrangea Bushes

Hydrangeas are a great way to add summer interest to the home landscape. Ranging in both size and color, hydrangea species available to flower gardeners are sure to delight. Though most of these plants are considered to be easy to grow, some seasonal care will be needed in order to ensure that each continues to produce an abundance of blooms.

One type, commonly called ‘Endless Summer,’ will grow best with careful pruning. Below we will attempt to answer one of the most frequently asked questions about this plant – when to prune ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea, and how to prune ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea.

What Are Endless Summer Hydrangeas?

Many macrophylla types of hydrangeas are often referred to as ‘Endless Summer.’ Though technically, ‘Endless Summer’ refers to a very common, trademarked brand name of plant that is frequently available at home and garden centers. Ever popular ‘Endless Summer’ varieties of hydrangea include ‘Summer Crush,’ ‘Pop Star,’ ‘Bloomstruck,’ and ‘Blushing Bride.’ These cultivars are available in varying shades of pink and blue, as well as white.

Like other macrophylla types, the blooms are known to change color in relation to the pH of garden soils. While highly acidic soils are known to produce striking blue flowers, those which are more alkaline are likely to produce blooms which range from lavender to deep pink.

When To Prune Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’

Deciding when to prune ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea will depend upon each plant’s growth habit. “Old wood” refers to the wood growth that was present throughout the previous growing season, while “new wood” refers to that which grows throughout the current season.

Gardeners can expect ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea types to bloom on both. This means that careful pruning will be required in order to maintain proper flowering, and to keep the plants looking their best. Though it may be tempting to trim the plants or cut flowers for use in cut arrangements throughout the growing season, doing so may negatively impact the production of blooms in the future.

How to Prune An Endless Summer Hydrangea

Experienced growers have found that ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangeas are best pruned as soon as the plants have finished flowering. This will usually occur sometime in late summer. Each stem should be trimmed back to the nearest set of healthy buds, making each cut so that it slants away from growth. Trimming at this time will reduce the likelihood of the accidental removal of next season’s blooms, which may occur on the plant’s old wood.

Additional pruning may also be needed in late winter. At this time, growers should remove any damaged stems, or those which have died back completely. Winter pruning should occur after the worst winter weather has passed, but before bud break has occurred.

Most ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangeas are marketed as repeat bloomers. This period of continuous flowering helps to keep the plants looking fresh and vibrant. Still, the removal of spent blooms may be needed to maintain a tidy appearance. Gardeners can deadhead ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangeas throughout the summer, as a much needed part of the pruning process. The frequent removal of faded flowers is believed to encourage growth and the production of new buds.