Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangeas

Question

I have 3 bushes and this is their 3rd summer and they have never bloomed. they look good but have no buds. what am I doing wrong? They are getting noon +sun and will get more when the sun rises more.

Answer 1

Most commonly it's improper pruning. If you aren't sure when to prune, it's best not to prune at all. Yours, however, is a paniculata type and here are instructions to prune it, if needed.

https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/trees-shrubs/pruning-hydranea.html

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm

Answer 2

Sorry, I typo'ed. I wrote May 14th and meant to say May 4th.

Answer 3

Although pruning in mid-to-late Spring would not be recommended (by me) because that is when they develop flower buds, I suspect that it is too early for paniculatas to be producing blooms in May 14th... at least in most areas (there may be a few broccoli heads in May here in Texas some years).

Paniculatas that are small may take 2-3 years to blooms once transplanted.

They are the most sun tolerant of hydrangeas so try to give them as much sun as you can (6+ hours), except in the south where leaves may fry if they get late afternoon summer sun and whose blooms may prematurely dry out due to heat stress in the southwest.

Finally, be on the look out for Bambi. Deer love to graze and eat the ends of hydrangea stems, where paniculata flower buds reside.