When And How Should I Prune My Hydrangea?

Do you have an oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia)?

Do you have a bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla)?

Do you have a mountain hydrangea (H. serrata)?

Do you have a climbing hydrangea (H. petiolaris)?

Do you have a smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens)?

Do you have a panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata)?

Oakleaf hydrangeas belong to varieties that bloom on last year's growth, or old wood, and should be pruned in late summer. Typically, only trimming is needed to maintain shape, size, and a healthy plant by cutting out dead, diseased, or broken branches. Otherwise, harsh pruning should be avoided. Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds. Tip-pruning the branches as leaves emerge in spring can encourage multiple, smaller flower heads rather than fewer larger flower heads.

Bigleaf hydrangeas belong to varieties that bloom on last year's growth, or old wood, and should be pruned in late summer. Typically, only trimming is needed to maintain shape, size, and a healthy plant by cutting out dead, diseased, or broken branches. Otherwise, harsh pruning should be avoided. Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds. Tip-pruning the branches as leaves emerge in spring can encourage multiple, smaller flower heads rather than fewer larger flower heads.

Mountain hydrangeas belong to varieties that bloom on last year's growth, or old wood, and should be pruned in late summer. Typically, only trimming is needed to maintain shape, size, and a healthy plant by cutting out dead, diseased, or broken branches. Otherwise, harsh pruning should be avoided. Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds. Tip-pruning the branches as leaves emerge in spring can encourage multiple, smaller flower heads rather than fewer larger flower heads.

Climbing hydrangeas belong to varieties that bloom on last year's growth, or old wood, and should be pruned in late summer. Typically, only trimming is needed to maintain shape, size, and a healthy plant by cutting out dead, diseased, or broken branches. Otherwise, harsh pruning should be avoided. Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds. Tip-pruning the branches as leaves emerge in spring can encourage multiple, smaller flower heads rather than fewer larger flower heads.

Smooth hydrangeas belong to varieties that bloom on new growth, or new wood, and should be pruned in early spring, just as leaves are beginning to show. Cut branches back by one-half to one-third, cutting just above a node. Next, remove any weak or spindly branches. Minimal pruning promotes large vigorous shrubs with numerous, smaller flower heads. Hard pruning 12 to 18 inches from the ground or even to the ground, will produce fewer, but larger, flower heads that may flop without propping.

Panicle hydrangeas belong to varieties that bloom on new growth, or new wood, and should be pruned in early spring, just as leaves are beginning to show. Cut branches back by one-half to one-third, cutting just above a node. Next, remove any weak or spindly branches. To create a strong framework, prune out surrounding smaller wood, leaving the larger stems.

New varieties of hydrangeas called "reblooming" or "remontant" that bloom on both old and new wood don't require pruning at all, just maintenance for plant health such as cutting out dead, diseased, damaged, or crossing branches.