No matter what type of garden you may have, you have probably planted at least one hydrangea in it. Hydrangeas are, in fact, the bestselling shrub in North American nurseries. But they can also be one of the most confusing. What kind of hydrangea you have determines when to prune—or if to prune at all—and how to prune. And even if you do everything right, there will inevitably come a summer when you will have few blossoms, and wonder, “Why isn’t my hydrangea blooming?” Master Gardener Karen Fricke will help answer these questions, and more, about America’s favorite shrub.

Biography

Karen was born on a farm in Pawnee, Illinois, so she was playing in the dirt before she could walk. Her love of gardening led her to Montgomery County Master Gardeners, where she received her training through the University of Maryland, graduating in 2014. For several years she worked at a plant nursery, leading their classes and workshops. After moving to New Jersey in 2022, she
transferred to the Essex County Master Gardeners. Throughout her years at Master Gardener plant clinics and working at the plant nursery, the most common question she heard was, “Why aren’t my hydrangeas blooming?”