Hydrangeas

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, so apologies if its not.

I have made a point of looking for Hydrangeas as I drive around the island and there are quite a lot. The one thing I 've noticed is that a lot of them seem to be a sort of rounded shape, basically like a large ball covered with blooms. I'm assuming that they have been pruned to grow into that shape? I looked online for Hydrangea advice and there are several sites all giving conflicting advice about how to care for hydrangeas So, how would I go about attaining the rounded shape and when is the best time to prune Hydrangeas, please?

Also, last year I bought a small Hydrangea. I put it into a larger pot, it grew but didn't bloom. I had read that I should not prune it, so didn't. This year is has grown some more ( about 2-3 ft high ) but is a bit straggly looking and the blooms are very small. What can I do to improve it, please?

 

Could you post a picture of the one you have? You'll get a more realistic answer to your question then.

I'm a newbie to them myself - bought a couple last year (plus a friend gave me her 'cast off' ) and took cuttings (thank you @Kristen ) and they are definitely "growing" on me

Being a novice though I daren't try to convince you that I *know* what I'm talking about but I do think they tend to grow in a rounded shape - well most of them, there are climbing varieties which I haven't been able to scrounge a cutting of yet.

Of the cuttings I took, one particular variety, 3 of them put on a show of flower this year even though they are just one-stem-wonders right now - but that is the nature of that particular variety (they will flower on new and old wood).

 

Pic of hydrangea. I have been thinking about trying to take cuttings from the older Hydrangeas. Can these be taken any time of the year? I've not tried taking cuttings before.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a128/flavrat66/hydrangea1.jpg

 

You may enjoy this thread: Hydrangea Propagation: ...

 

Hiya chums
Just picking up on this thread to ask what's the best way to prune? I haven't done anything with mine yet. The old flowers are still present, and I just noticed some bud formation. Any tips?

 

hi all
You need to know the variety and then you will get a correct answer as some you can hard prune (cut all last year growth off) and the new growth will flower this year with others you just take off the old flower heads in April after the frost as this helps to protect (frost) the flower buds made from last year close to the top of the branches , Luci sound like you have seen the "mop heads" where you live so no pruning yet also only a very light pruning to keep the shape

Hope this helps a little sure someone else will add to...

Spruce

 

Hiya Spruce
I wouldn't have a clue what the variety is. Just looks like your regular mop-head. So, a light pruning in early spring?

 

Hi Freddy

Did it flower last year ? if yes wait until you see the buds swelling then snip just below the old flower head and above the new buds , but as I said leave the flower head on as long as you can as it realy does protect the new buds from a late frost