When is the Right Time to Prune Your Hydrangeas?
The type of hydrangea you have will determine when it’s time to trim it
Compared with the pruning guidelines for many shrubs and trees, hydrangeas’ pruning needs are pretty minimal. Most need very little actual pruning. They’re fine with just enough of a trim to shape the plant, get rid of dead branches and encourage future blooms.
If you know what type of hydrangea you have, check below for the recommended pruning guidelines. If you’re not sure, you’ll need to know whether your hydrangea blooms on old wood or new wood before you take to the shrub with a pair of clippers.
If you know what type of hydrangea you have, check below for the recommended pruning guidelines. If you’re not sure, you’ll need to know whether your hydrangea blooms on old wood or new wood before you take to the shrub with a pair of clippers.
‘Annabelle’ wild hydrangeas, which bloom on new wood, line a driveway.
New wood versus old wood
To understand what gardeners mean when they talk about old and new wood, take a look at your plant while it’s in bloom. If the flowers are on stems and branches that appeared on the plant during the previous year or years, then that species of hydrangea blooms on old wood. If the flowers are clustered on new stems and branches that first appeared in the early spring of the current year, then your plant blooms on new wood.
New wood versus old wood
To understand what gardeners mean when they talk about old and new wood, take a look at your plant while it’s in bloom. If the flowers are on stems and branches that appeared on the plant during the previous year or years, then that species of hydrangea blooms on old wood. If the flowers are clustered on new stems and branches that first appeared in the early spring of the current year, then your plant blooms on new wood.
Invincibelle Spirit II wild hydrangea sports pink blooms.
Wild hydrangeas
Wild hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) bloom on new wood. ‘Annabelle’, a beautiful white variety, is the most popular wild hydrangea cultivar. Cut wild hydrangeas back to about 15 to 30cm inches from the ground in late winter or early spring, before new wood emerges. You can cut them higher if you want to encourage taller growth or help prevent the lowest branches from flopping over.
Wild hydrangeas
Wild hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) bloom on new wood. ‘Annabelle’, a beautiful white variety, is the most popular wild hydrangea cultivar. Cut wild hydrangeas back to about 15 to 30cm inches from the ground in late winter or early spring, before new wood emerges. You can cut them higher if you want to encourage taller growth or help prevent the lowest branches from flopping over.
Bigleaf hydrangeas
Almost all bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) bloom on old wood. Most of these need little pruning, but if you do want to remove old or dead wood, or cut off wayward branches, do so in midsummer after the flowers have faded.
Almost all bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) bloom on old wood. Most of these need little pruning, but if you do want to remove old or dead wood, or cut off wayward branches, do so in midsummer after the flowers have faded.
‘Blue Wave’ bigleaf hydrangea has pretty lacecap flowers.
You can let the blooms stay on bigleaf hydrangeas until they drop off naturally, or until about late winter or early spring. If you want to cut them off after they flower, do so as long as it’s still midsummer. Whichever choice you make, simply cut back to the next set of buds.
Decorate your home with a beautiful hydrangea garland
You can let the blooms stay on bigleaf hydrangeas until they drop off naturally, or until about late winter or early spring. If you want to cut them off after they flower, do so as long as it’s still midsummer. Whichever choice you make, simply cut back to the next set of buds.
Decorate your home with a beautiful hydrangea garland
Two bigleaf hydrangeas frame a patio.
Older shrubs may begin to be too crowded and unproductive. If that’s the case, cut out up to a third of the oldest stems in late winter or early spring, just before the plant stops being dormant. This will help open up the shrub and encourage new and more vigorous growth.
Older shrubs may begin to be too crowded and unproductive. If that’s the case, cut out up to a third of the oldest stems in late winter or early spring, just before the plant stops being dormant. This will help open up the shrub and encourage new and more vigorous growth.
Endless Summer hydrangea
The exceptions in this particular group of hydrangeas are the repeat bloomers, such as those in the Endless Summer series. They bloom on both old and new wood, so you can lightly trim them as needed throughout most of the year.
The exceptions in this particular group of hydrangeas are the repeat bloomers, such as those in the Endless Summer series. They bloom on both old and new wood, so you can lightly trim them as needed throughout most of the year.
Oak-leaf hydrangeas grow in a summer garden.
Oak-leaf hydrangeas
Oak-leaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) also bloom on old wood. Cut the faded flower stems back to the closest leaf joint. If you do need to clean up the plant, cut out the dead wood and weak stems in late winter or early spring.
Oak-leaf hydrangeas
Oak-leaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) also bloom on old wood. Cut the faded flower stems back to the closest leaf joint. If you do need to clean up the plant, cut out the dead wood and weak stems in late winter or early spring.
‘Limelight’ panicled hydrangeas surround a terrace.
Panicled hydrangeas
Prune panicled hydrangeas (H. paniculata), including ‘Grandiflora’ and ‘Limelight’, in late winter. You can remove faded flowers at any time.
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Panicled hydrangeas
Prune panicled hydrangeas (H. paniculata), including ‘Grandiflora’ and ‘Limelight’, in late winter. You can remove faded flowers at any time.
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A climbing hydrangea sprawls elegantly next to a gate and pergola.
Climbing hydrangeas
Climbing hydrangeas (H. petiolaris) should be trimmed to shape them right after they stop flowering.
You can learn more about growing and caring for hydrangeas with the Royal Horticultural Society.
Climbing hydrangeas
Climbing hydrangeas (H. petiolaris) should be trimmed to shape them right after they stop flowering.
You can learn more about growing and caring for hydrangeas with the Royal Horticultural Society.
Know the basics
There are two simple rules of hydrangea pruning. If it blooms on old wood, you prune after the flowers fade in the middle of summer, otherwise you wait until late winter or early spring. And if it blooms on new wood, then late winter or early spring is the optimal time to prune.