The "Pinky Winky" variety is a late-blooming panicle hydrangea, which opens its initially white to lime-colored flower panicles in August. During the flowering period, the flowers turn reddish. Like almost all panicle hydrangeas, "Pinky Winky" also flowers on this year's shoots and should therefore be cut back vigorously in spring.
How much you prune your Pinky Winky depends on whether you want to encourage flower or leaf growth
Cut back panicle hydrangea 'Pinky Winky' annually
Panicle hydrangeas should be pruned annually, otherwise they will fall apart quickly and their flowering will decrease. The best time to cut the panicle hydrangea "Pinky Winky" is in spring, even before the plant sprout. Make sure that you reach for the pruning shears during a mild weather period so that a late frost that may set in does not put additional strain on the plant, which has been weakened by the cut. Since "Pinky Winky" flowers like almost all panicle hydrangeas on this year's wood, a vigorous pruning contributes to increased shoot and thus flower formation.
Step-by-step instructions for editing "Pinky Winky"
When pruning the panicle hydrangea "Pinky Winky", the following procedure has proven itself:
- Take a pair of sharp and clean pruning shears.
- Shorten all side shoots to about 10 centimeters.
- Leave about two to three buds, if they already exist at this point.
- Alternatively, cut the entire shrub down to a height of about 15 to 20 centimeters.
- Dead or diseased wood should be removed immediately throughout the year.
- If this does not happen, the useless shoots will only rob the plant of its strength unnecessarily.
- or offer fungi and other pathogens a perfect target.
If the panicle hydrangea "Pinky Winky" is cut regularly, a rejuvenation or thinning cut is not necessary. However, if the shrub remains uncut for several years, it must first be rejuvenated by a vigorous pruning.
Bigger flowers or bigger bush?
How much you cut back your panicle hydrangea "Pinky Winky" depends primarily on the desired growth height and shape. Hydrangeas that are pruned back grow more compactly and remain smaller, but develop more and larger flower panicles. The less you prune Pinky Winky, the taller the shrub will grow over the growing season.
tips and tricks
The Hydrangea paniculata "Pink Diamond" is very similar to "Pinky Winky", the flowers of which also turn a very attractive pink as they fade. The sunnier the location, the more intense the red color will be. This panicle hydrangea grows to about 250 centimeters tall and is pruned in the same way as 'Pinky Winky'.