A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Hydrangea Help! Pruning Problem

I recently hired a local landscaper to mulch and edge. Unfortunately he also took it upon himself to prune just about every plant in my yard, including every single one of my hydrangeas, which were finally starting to look established.

What were once large round bushes that bloomed all over are now very poorly shaped cylinders with buds only spared on top (thank goodness for those at least, or I'd have nothing blooming this year!). All of the new growth at the bottom was removed as well, all of which has me very worried (not to mention furious).

Has anyone experienced over-pruned hydrangeas before? I have a feeling that this year is a lost cause, but I'm also concerned about next year, since the nice round shapes of the plants were pretty much destroyed.

I also have a large peegee hydrangea that was really chopped up badly too, so I'm sure that is shot for the year and looks terrible, but will probably be OK next year (that thing grows like crazy). It's the mophead hydrangeas that I'm most worried about, and I'd appreciate any advice or experience anyone can pass on. Thanks!

Hi Mollycat and welcome to the garden helper

So sorry to hear the landscaper over pruned your Hydrangeas' I would think a landscaper would know his plants better than that .
I don't know a lot about those plants But I can imagine it's early enough in the season to give it some good healthy growth,, then again I know some bloom off old wood while others bloom of new growth, Unfortunately I can't help you on this But there are plenty of members here that can.
Please be patient someone will be around here soon to help you better than I.

Welcome Mollycat.
Hydrangeas bloom on new wood. It may be late for them to give you much of a show this year but they should recover nicely over the next year or so. I am sorry. And if you ever hire that landscaper or another, communication is the key. Be very specific in your instructions. You may need to tell them what not to touch.
I recently had a similar incident with a friend doing me a favor and grading my roads. I have a lot of shovel work to 'fix' the mess he made.

Thanks for the info. That gives me hope that maybe next year they'll look a little more normal, it's the really bad shape that has me worried.

Has anyone used any particular fertilizer that's given hydrangeas a boost? I saw one site that recommended a slow release fertilizer put down no later than August, to help with next years growth. Any other suggestions would be appreciated too.

I have hired this landscaper in the past for several different things, and there have been little issues here and there, but nothing I was upset about until now. We did have a very specific contract which outlined everything he was to do and trimming was never part of the deal, and when looking at the garden to give the estimate a few weeks ago, he even said how nice the hydrangeas all looked! Why he chose to hack them all up is beyond me, and yesterday also discovered that he had cut my rose of sharons and a few other plants, including a peony! Needless to say, I will never be hiring him again.

I appreciate the replies, thank you!

found this,, I had always been told some hydrangeas bloom off old wood,, seems I was right,

"Method I is for hydrangea types that bloom on OLD WOOD. ("Old Wood" are stems that have been on the hydrangea since the summer before the current season. "New wood" are stems that developed on the plant during the current season) This group of hydrangeas produce flower buds on hydrangea stems around August, September or October for the following summer's blooms. If those stems are removed (pruned) in the fall, winter, or spring, the bloom buds will be removed, and there may be little or no bloom the following summer (usually June/July for the northern hemisphere).

Note that pruning is not the same thing as removing the dead blooms. There exists a small group of mophead hydrangea that will bloom no matter when they are pruned. ('Endless Summer' is this type of hydrangea). Your garden center can tell you when you purchase a hydrangea if it is in this special category called "everbloomers." But for the vast majority of hydrangeas, pruning after July will likely result in fewer blooms the next summer."

My recommendation is a firing squad for the landscaper. :-)

Your hydrangeas will grow back...I've had some eaten to the ground...