Pruning Vanilla Strawberry (paniculata)

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I don't plan on pruning until next spring, but I was wondering if someone could give me some basic dos and don't on pruning a big paniculata like Vanilla Strawberry.

I am in zone 6, and my VS is about 5, maybe 6 years old, growing in sun most of the day. (And it is gorgeous in full bloom, though mostly white here, unfortunately.)

First question: how much pruning can it take? It is getting awfully wide. (The height I don't mind.) Is there any problem giving it regular "haircuts" to keep it back off the roses growing near it? Would it be better to take out a couple of the offending branches? (I have no spaces left for moving the roses, so everybody is going to have to fight it out for space where they are.)

Second question: What kind of pruning makes for bigger or smaller blooms on the hydrangea? I suspect I have never really pruned it, though my neighbor and myself have periodically picked bouquets off it. At this point in time, the blooms are getting monstrous in size--very big and heavy, weighing down the branches, giving it a droopy look that kinda mars the overall appearance of the bush. Would I get smaller blooms if I gave the whole bush a light haircut?

Sorry, I don't have a recent picture of it, but here is one from a year or two ago. The blooms aren't that large here--I'd like to get the blooms back down more to this size, if possible. Or will the blooms just get larger the more the bush continues to grow?

If you have any other advice, feel free to share it. I have grown several macros for years, but this was my first venture into the world of paniculatas. They can get BIG, can't they! Big but beautiful!

Thanks,

Kate

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Comments (8)

luis_pr
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What may be 'big pruning' to me may be different to you so: 1) it should be able to handle pruning well but as you said, not now since pruning may now trigger new growth. It is vigorous; most/all panics are. 2) pruning the ends of some branches will trigger new branches that will have slightly smaller blooms. If you give it a haircut, it may do just that. If width is the problem, I would completely cut down stems that are growing by the plants nearby. Then see if aesthetically speaking you need to prune more. 3) You can also completely cut down the longest 1/3 stems this year; cut down the next 1/3 longest stems in year 2; and cut down the rest in year 3. also, panics tend to flop if the blooms are large. P. S. - do you think that you may need Strawberry Sundae in that spot instead?
hyed
9 years ago
August
Hi Kate, have one VS after a few yrs found it very floppy so I started to prune all the lower branches and every year more...today I have a VS Tree
September
Mid July
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dublinbay z6 (KS)
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, luis, for the advice. Yes, I probably should have planted Strawberry Sundae instead, but I didn't and I just don't have the heart to spade a perfectly healthy bush--plus digging up the roots sounds like quite the challenge! Besides, I confess, I rather like my "monster"--she is a big beauty, indeed!

I will mull over the options you gave me. I'm thinking the general haircut might be workable. Like Hyed said, she can get floppy with those big blooms. But the 3 year idea might be workable also.

But if something doesn't work soon, I may just decide I want a Vanilla Strawberry "tree" -- like hyed's. It's always good to have options in reserve, isn't it. : )

Thanks for the prompt responses.

Anyone have pics of how your Vanilla Strawberry is coming along?

Kate
luis_pr
9 years ago
If you decide it is too much pruning work, consider giving it to a garden club when they prepare to have sales in the Spring. I have obtained some oakleaf hydrangeas that way. The caveat is... ask a garden member to help extracting it or see if the members can come and extract it all by themselves.
dublinbay z6 (KS)
Original Author
9 years ago
That's a thought, luis--but I really, really like my BIG panic, so I'll try accommodating it for a couple more years. Hyed's "tree" certainly is proof that it can stand considerable pruning. That was my first concern.

Kate
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
There are folks who whack their H. Paniculatas down to 2'-3' every spring, and they regrow enthusiastically, so no worries. Just make sure your pruning is early enough so that it hasn't started forming flower buds.
hyed
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Kate, here is a Pee Gee I pruned too tree form
before
After
dublinbay z6 (KS)
Original Author
9 years ago
Very interesting pictures. The paniculatas certainly are beautiful, aren't they!

Good news, NHBabs, that annual pruning down to 3 ft or so tall won't harm panics at all. I shall be more confident early next spring when I start pruning mine. Maybe that would be the most practical way to handle my problem.

Kate