I have many Endless Summer hydrangea that in spring buds form then frost kills the buds

Question

I was told NOT to prune Endless Summer in fall. Wait until spring for new buds. However we get a frost again sometimes even in May zone 5. I have had to cut back all my bushes each year in spring, which gives the bush a late start to grow and few flowers to enjoy. Should I pull out the plant and use another type of bush? The bushes are very established 12 years old. I mulch the base with pine needles and fertilize in spring. Thank you, Robbie Geboy

Answer 1

Endless Summer shrubs bloom on old and new wood. To protect the buds during winter that formed the previous summer, mulch up to 12 inches in the fall. Do not remove the mulch in spring till all threats of frost have passed. Pruning is really not necessary except to remove spent blooms and dead wood. If you want to replace them, the panicle hydrangeas bloom only on new wood so you don’t have to worry about losing buds to late frosts.

http://www.endlesssummerblooms.com/design-and-grow/planting-and-care