The ‘Incrediball’ Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’ INCREDIBALL) is a popular, resilient shrub known for its large, spherical white flowers. It is an improved cultivar of the native smooth hydrangea, ‘Annabelle’, distinguished by stronger stems that reduce flopping, even with blooms up to 12 inches in diameter. Proper pruning maintains the plant’s health, vigor, and impressive floral display, ensuring robust growth and abundant flowering each season.
Why Prune Incrediball Hydrangeas
Pruning ‘Incrediball’ hydrangeas offers several benefits for a healthier, more visually appealing plant. It encourages stronger stems to support large flower heads, a common challenge for Hydrangea arborescens varieties. Pruning also stimulates abundant flowering by redirecting energy into new growth, where blooms form. Removing older, weaker, or dead wood improves air circulation, helping prevent disease. Additionally, pruning manages the shrub’s size and shape, ensuring it fits well within its garden space.
When to Prune Incrediball Hydrangeas
The optimal time to prune ‘Incrediball’ hydrangeas is late winter or early spring, just before new growth emerges. This timing is effective because ‘Incrediball’ hydrangeas bloom on new wood. Pruning at this time ensures you do not remove developing flower buds, guaranteeing a full display of blooms in the upcoming season. Waiting until the plant is dormant and the threat of severe winter weather has passed helps protect exposed cuts from frost damage. While some gardeners prune in late fall, early spring is preferred to allow dried flower heads to provide winter interest.
How to Prune Incrediball Hydrangeas
Pruning ‘Incrediball’ hydrangeas involves straightforward steps. First, gather clean, sharp bypass pruners for smaller stems and loppers for thicker, woody growth. Disinfect your tools with rubbing alcohol before and after use to prevent disease spread.
Identify and remove any dead, damaged, or diseased stems by cutting them back to the ground or to healthy wood. These stems are often brittle or lack buds. Next, address crossing or rubbing branches, which can create wounds; remove one of the conflicting branches, the weaker or inward-growing one.
For overall height reduction and to encourage strong new stems, cut back the remaining healthy stems. A common practice is to prune the entire plant by about one-third of its total height each spring. For a more compact plant, cut stems back to 12 to 18 inches from the ground. If you prefer a taller shrub, leave stems 18 to 24 inches tall.
Make clean, angled cuts just above a strong outward-facing bud or node to promote outward growth and a more open structure. You can also thin the center of the plant slightly to improve airflow and light penetration.
Post-Pruning Care and Tips
After pruning your ‘Incrediball’ hydrangea, provide care to help the plant recover and thrive. Water the plant thoroughly, especially to help settle roots and support new growth. Consistent moisture is beneficial, especially during the initial weeks following pruning.
Consider applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins. A formula like 10-10-10 or one designed for hydrangeas provides necessary nutrients for robust development and flower production. Avoid fertilizing after early summer to prevent encouraging new growth that may not harden off before winter.