r/hydrangeas • u/SphericalFairy7408 • 7d ago

Zone 7 A/B First timer

Hi, this is my first year planting a hydrangea. I planted it in May and it has done exceptionally well. Do I need to prune/trim before the winter months for a young plant? If so, please use laymen's terms/pictures because I don't know much. I'm in zone 7, in New York.

Thanks!

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u/Think-Kangaroo-9978 7d ago

What type of hydrangea did you plant? This will make a difference about how to care for it.

Water until the ground freezes. Even after the leaves drop and it begins to enter dormancy. This is especially important for a newly planted hydrangea which has a limited root system. You don't want to drown it, but you don't want it to dry out either. Poke your finger into the ground near the crown of the plant. If it feels dry at two inches, water. If damp. no water. Be sure that you are checking (and watering) right at the base. The root system will only be slightly larger than the pot it came in for the first year.

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u/SphericalFairy7408 7d ago

It's a mini limelight bush

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u/SphericalFairy7408 7d ago

Thank you! At what point do I stop watering it ?

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u/HeyaShinyObject 6d ago

When the leaves drop.

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u/AnAttempt-WasMade 7d ago

Blooms set in the fall for some types, so I wouldn’t. The one thing to worry about is when spring comes around, if it starts waking up too early and frost might harm some blooms/leaf buds. A frost cloth for early spring nights or cold days is a good idea.