There are several categories of Hydrangea! Smooth or Panicle (also called Tree Hydrangeas), Climbing Hydrangeas, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Bigleaf or Mountain (also called Lace Cap) Hydrangeas.
Each variety has different maintenance requirements to keep them blooming as well as different growth habits.
Smooth or Panicle Hydrangeas need to be 2+ years old before they will bloom regularly.
Climbing and Oakleaf Hydrangeas need to be 5+ years old and should not be cut back to insure blooms. If they don’t bloom, they may not be getting enough light to bloom or the deer bit off the buds.
Bigleaf and Mountain Hydrangeas with budding wood should not be cut back (dead wood may be removed) to make sure you get blooms if they have set. However, these are a bit more complicated – if you live in an area that may experience low temperature drops or colder climates, it may be good to insulate your Hydrangeas with leaf debris or burlap to protect the buds.
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