How to Prune Hydrangeas Without Killing Them
Bigleaf hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are gorgeous, but when it comes to pruning, they can make even seasoned gardeners second-guess themselves. The trick is knowing what type of hydrangea you have and pruning at the right time. Here's the straight talk you need.
1. Know Your Type Hydrangeas fall into two main categories when it comes to pruning:
Old wood bloomers (like bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas): They bloom on last year's growth.
New wood bloomers (like panicle and smooth hydrangeas): They bloom on this year's growth.
2. Old Wood Bloomers: Timing is Everything If your hydrangea blooms on old wood, prune right after flowering — usually late summer. Wait too long and you risk cutting off next year's blooms. Only remove dead stems and shape lightly.
3. New Wood Bloomers: Cut Hard in Late Winter Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood can be pruned hard in late winter or early spring before they leaf out. Cut them back by about one-third to encourage strong, healthy growth and big blooms.
4. Deadheading Isn't Pruning Deadheading (snipping off spent flowers) can be done anytime to keep the plant looking good. Just be careful not to cut too far down on old wood bloomers.
5. Cut Smart, Not Crazy Always use clean, sharp tools. Make cuts just above a pair of healthy buds. Avoid hacking the plant to the ground unless you're doing a total rejuvenation (and only on new wood types).
6. When in Doubt, Less is More If you're unsure what type you have, stick to removing only dead or weak stems and deadheading spent blooms. It's safer to under-prune than to overdo it and lose your flowers for the season.
Bottom Line Successful hydrangea pruning comes down to timing, knowing your plant, and not getting too aggressive with the shears. Keep it simple, and your hydrangeas will reward you with beautiful blooms year after year.
For more information and to help identify your hydrangeas, check out this article from Proven Winners.
Happy Gardening!
