How to Prune Hydrangeas

Who doesn’t love hydrangeas? There are so many varieties to choose from and each of them promises the trademark poof ball blossoms in vibrant colors. They’re versatile enough to adapt to containers, beds, boxes, and even hedgerows. Most varieties grow large enough to serve as anchor pieces for whole swaths of landscape. You can even influence the color of blossoms for some varieties.

If you have made, or plan to make, hydrangeas a part of your landscaping mix, one of the first things you need to learn is how to prune them. Because some varieties bloom on old growth while others bloom on new growth, it’s important to keep track of the varieties you have. Hydrangeas are pretty low maintenance in general but pruning can help them keep the shape and size you want. If you do it right.

For landscapers new to the wonderful world of hydrangeas, and for those who’ve had bad experiences pruning them in the past—you’re in luck! Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to prune all of the most common varieties of this popular perennial shrub. That way you’ll have the best and most beautiful blooms possible this season and for years to come.

Don't feel like pruning your Hydrangeas yourself? No worries, Plant Persuasions knowledgeable crews can do it for you! Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Pruning Hydrangeas: Knowing Is Half The Battle

One of the most enjoyable aspects of growing hydrangeas is that strictly speaking, they don’t have to be pruned to thrive. The biggest reasons to prune hydrangeas are to control the size or shape of individual shrubs. That means that doing a little bit of research before you choose a variety can pay off in time saved and maintenance avoided. Knowing the maximum size of a variety and planning the spacing when you plan can eliminate the need to prune every year. Still, even hydrangeas with enough room to grow to full size can benefit from a bit of pruning to help them maintain their shape. If you want to get that done without harming this year’s or next year’s blooms—figure out if your varieties are “new growth” or “old growth” bloomers and follow the steps in our helpful guides.

How To Prune Hydrangeas That Bloom On Old Growth

If your hydrangeas are of the Bigleaf, Mopleaf, Lacecap, or Oakleaf varieties—their blossoms grow and bloom on old wood. That means that they produce new blooms in the spring that appear on last year’s buds. These varieties tend to bloom in early summer and the flowers will begin to fade and die-off by mid-summer.

Step #1: Confirm That Your Hydrangeas Are an “Old Growth” Variety

If you’re just in the planning stages of planting hydrangeas, you can keep things simple by purchasing either “old growth” or “new growth” varieties. Another option is to keep a map, chart, or some other kind of record. If you’ve had your hydrangeas for a while or you’ve moved into a new home and inherited hydrangeas, it’s a good idea to identify your varieties by doing a goggle search and comparing images of each to your actual plant.  It won’t be the end of the world if you prune a hydrangea at the wrong time of the year, but it will hurt the quality and abundance of blossoms the next time it blooms.

Step #2: Plan The Prune

There is a narrow window of time that is just perfect for pruning hydrangeas that bloom on old growth. You need to get the pruning done after the season’s blooms begin to fade but before the plant begins to produce the buds that will give you next year’s flowers.

If you wait too long, pruning will likely cost you blossoms in the coming season. If you miss the window, you can always wait until next year. Hydrangeas don’t have to be pruned every year.

Step #3: Lose The Dead Weight

When this year’s blooms are spent, you can deadhead them using pruning shears. This will help to keep the plant looking good.

You can also remove any dead or dying canes that you identify while you work on the plant.

Step #4: Cut The Oldest Canes To The Ground

If you want to control the size and shape of your hydrangea, it’s a good idea to thin out the older canes by cutting them off at ground level. This will promote fresh growth and make sure that the whole plant produces plenty of blossoms.

Some of the canes will be pretty thick. You may need two-handed cutters to get through them.

Pruning of Hydrangeas and all other shrubs, bushes, and plants is part of the service Plant Persuasion offers in our Monthly Estate Maintenance.

How To Prune Hydrangeas That Bloom on New Growth

If your hydrangeas are Panicles, which includes PeeGee and Limelight, or smooth, which includes Annabelle—their blossoms grow and bloom on new wood. These varieties tend to bloom later in the summer than old-growth varieties because they need time to produce new wood and create buds.

Step #1: Confirm That Your Hydrangeas Are a “New Growth” Variety

If you’re uncertain, google images to help you determine the variety (or varieties) of your hydrangeas.

Step #2: Put It At The Top of Your Spring To-Do List

Some growers prefer to prune new growth varieties in late winter before they’ve begun to generate buds.

If you like smaller flowers and sturdier stems, you can promote this by pruning in the fall.

You can prune new growth hydrangeas pretty much any time of the year. Just avoid pruning them in the late spring and early summer since this is too close to when they bloom.

Step #3: Prune For Housekeeping As Needed

Dead canes, crossed branches, and other problems can be dealt with by simply pruning away the offenders. This will help you keep the size and shape you want for your plant and keep it growing strong and healthy as well as looking its best.

Plant Persuasion  Has Everything You Need To Keep Your Hydrangeas Beautiful

Whether you need monthly maintenance, a whole yard refresh, or just some useful tips and tricks—the team at Plant Persuasion is here to help you get more beautiful blooms from your hydrangeas. Give us a call, we would love to chat about how we can help you get the yard of your dreams.