Pruning Hydrangeas

Advice about how and when to prune Hydrangeas

Mop head and Lacecap Hydrangeas - Hydrangea macrophylla types - better known as mop head Hydrangeas owing to their ball shaped flowers.

This group are the 'popular garden type of Hydrangea.

This section of Hydrangeas flower in mid to late summer on flowering shoots that were made the previous year. Correct pruning, at the right time will ensure that your hydrangeas flower well. They do not actually NEED pruning, but if you do, then the illustrations below show you how.

Hydrangea serrata Bluebird - A Lacecap variety

Hydrangea serrata Bluebird - A choice and popular lace cap variety of Hydrangea that falls within the method of pruning outlined below.

It is normal to leave the faded flower heads on the plant throughout the winter. They give added interest in the autumn, and protect the new buds below from severe frost damage.

When and How to Prune Hydrangea Bushes.

In early spring, simply prune off last season's flower heads to about the first pair of healthy buds below the old flower head.

With older bushes, it would be a good idea to prune one or two of the main stems down to near ground level to encourage new growth from the base of the plant. This ensures continuous supply of healthy stems and usually results in larger Hydrangea flowers.

Detail diagram of how to cut back the old flower truss The pruned Hydrangea

Picture on left showed correct pruning cut - back to first good pair of buds.
Picture on right, shows the hydrangea bush in the left picture after pruning to open out and remove weak growth.

For most deciduous shrubs that flower in mid to late summer on growth made in the previous year, which included the hydrangeas above, the pruning method is the same.

Trim off last season's flower heads to the 1st pair of leaves - in early spring. With mature plants, some of the older branches can be cut back to the base in order to rejuvenate the growth.

Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens need different pruning

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