Hydrangeas: To Prune or Not to Prune

When and how to prune hydrangeas can be a tough question to answer. The right way to prune this plant depends on a couple of factors; the species, old wood or new wood, and how you want the bush to look. For the most part hydrangeas only need to be cut after the flowers fade through August 1st. Pruning after that could cause the plant not to bloom in the spring. For more specific details on how to prune a hydrangea plant keep reading!

Old Wood Vs. New Wood
Old wood means the plant stemmed from the summer before the current one. New wood means the stems developed during the current season. This is important in knowing when to prune. With old wood, you should prune immediately after the flowers fade. Do not wait too long or you will cut off the flowers for next spring. With new wood, their buds are set within the season so the shrub should be pruned in early spring before the new growth emerges.

Based on Species:

Big leaf – the most common species, also known as mopheads and lacecaps. They bloom early in the summer on old wood so prune them after they flower.
Oakleaf – cone shaped white blooms turn a shade of russet in late summer. These bloom on old wood and should not be pruned until after flowering.
Panicle – panicale shaped white flowers in mid-late summer. Because they bloom on new wood prune them in early spring before they sprout new foliage.
Annabelle – globe shaped blooms that start charteuse color and turn white. This variety blooms on new wood so prune in early spring.
Reblooming – also known as ‘Endless Summer’, flowers more than once throughout the season. This variety blooms on both old and new wood so they can be cut back at any time.

When pruning on old wood, first remove dead limbs, then crossing branches. This opens the plants interior to the sunlight it needs. When pruning on new wood be selective. Choose branches that do not conform to the desired shape you would like for the plant. For Annabelle hydrangeas cut them back to roughly 6-12 inches above ground.

Remember hydrangeas love water, and partial sunlight so do not keep them in the shade too much!

Thanks for reading!
Christina Allis
Sawyer Home & Garden Center
christina@sawyergardencetner.com
269-426-8810