Pruning is one of those tasks that frightens many gardeners. But with the knowledge of how to do it (and, more importantly, when), it doesn’t have to be difficult.
Unlike many shrubs that are pruned in winter or just before winter, hydrangeas are pruned in late summer or late winter or early spring, or not at all, depending on the type. .
Contents
old wooden bloomers
These hydrangeas flower on old wood (last year’s sprout) and should be pruned in the summer as soon as they finish flowering. Hydrangeas in this group include:
big leaf (hydrangea macrophylla) – these hydrangeas are the most popular of the cultivated varieties and have about 600 hybrids with different names. They are known for their large green leaves and large spherical flowers or umbels.
Oak Leaf (hydrangea quercifolia) – Native to the forests of southeastern America, these hydrangeas are known for their oak-like leaves that turn yellow to brown in the fall. Depending on the variety, they have white or pink/purple flowers.
To climb (abnormal hydrangea subspecies. petiole) It reaches about 30 to 40 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide when supported by a structure such as a wall or fence or can cover the same cultivated area as a ground cover. It is covered in quite fragrant white flowers with lacy caps from late spring through summer.
Mountain (hydrangea serrata) it resembles the big-leaved hydrangeas but a bit neater and with smaller leaves and umbel flowers. Flower colors vary throughout the season and can change with soil conditions in shades of blue, pink and white and combinations thereof. They reach about 2 to 4 feet wide and tall.
Related Reading: Fertilizing Hydrangeas for Bigger, Better Blooms
Tips for pruning flowers from old wood
Prune immediately after flowering in summer and not after August. Do not prune in fall, winter or spring. If you miss the August deadline, it’s best not to prune at all that year.
Next season’s flower buds will form when temperatures begin to drop in late summer. Never cut the woody stems as this will reduce their flowering for the following season. If the plant is messy and needs a good pruning, you can prune it drastically and wait a season for flowering to resume.
Provide plenty of foliage to keep plants alive. If you prune into sticks, the plant will most likely die. This drastic pruning should be avoided if possible. In general, it is best not to prune more than a third of the growth.
Always use sharp pruners and sterilize the blade between each plant cut so you don’t transfer potential pests and diseases from plant to plant.
Start by pruning the stems to maintain their shape and size and keep the plants healthy. Cut the flower heads down to the first buds. Remove damaged, diseased or crossed branches and remove frost damaged branches and shoots.
In the spring, you can prune the branches when the leaves start to appear to encourage more flower buds.
Big-leaved hydrangeas and some other varieties can do without pruning. So it doesn’t matter if that job is lost for a season or two. Keep them neat and tidy and make sure you don’t cut any viable shoots and you should be fine.
Remove spent flowers as the blooming season progresses so the plant can focus on new growth.
Read next: How to propagate hydrangeas from cuttings in 7 easy steps
New wooden bloomers
The second group of hydrangeas are those that bloom on new wood. They can be pruned with other shrubs in late winter and sometimes early spring.
Hydrangeas in this group include:
Prestige (hydrangea paniculata) they are tall shrubs (8 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide) with masses of cone-shaped flowers in white, pink, cream and red and some are white with a hint of cream. These sturdy, hardy shrubs outperform other hydrangeas in colder regions. The flowers take on beautiful fall colors and the leaves turn from green to red in the fall.
Smooth (hydrangea arborescens) grown for its masses of creamy white and sometimes pink flowers on dark green leaves. They are medium-sized shrubs that grow 3 to 6 feet tall in shady areas of the garden. They are also hardier than Bigleaf varieties.
Next Read: 11 Hydrangea Companion Plants (And What Not To Plant With Them)
Tips for pruning new wood flowers
Prune in late winter or early spring just as new growth begins to appear. You can prune the branches down to a third or even half, depending on the species.
For panicle hydrangeas, prune to create a sturdy frame. Prune any side shoots that are a bit thin and weak and leave the strong ones.
For flexible hydrangeas, you have to be a little more careful in its size and prune a little each year, which encourages flowering more.
When cutting, cut just above a node. Remove broken, damaged or diseased branches or slightly thin and weak branches.
In general, the more you prune, the larger the flowers will be, but fewer in number. A limited pruning will produce smaller but rich flowers.
If you’re unsure if your hydrangeas need pruning, skip them and prune them regularly, being careful not to cut the flower buds. Use general maintenance pruning to keep plants healthy, such as pruning dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
Deadhead any faded flowers regularly during the blooming season. This helps plants concentrate on new growth and produce new flowers.
New and old wooden bloomers
This group feeds on new and old wood. Some of the newer varieties of hydrangeas are compact and neat and require no pruning, just a touch-up to maintain plant health and retain its shape. Remove any diseased, dead or damaged branches and any crossing branches.
These hydrangeas are called “Reblooming Hydrangeas”. the first of hydrangea macrophylla introducing this flower to new and old wood is the ‘Endless Summer’ range.
They will do best in warmer climates as old wood buds can be damaged by cold, harsh winters, but in the right climate they will produce flowers through an endless summer of early summer and sometimes until autumn. Now there are many more species that have the same properties.
For these varieties, you only need to prune the faded flowers down to the first set of buds on the plant. Or prune more vigorously after flowering to change the shape.
It really is that simple. Pruning doesn’t have to be such a mysterious or scary annual chore. With the right knowledge and a light hand, this will only help your hydrangeas perform at their best.