Key Points
New wood blooming hydrangeas can handle shaping now and hard pruning when dormant.Old wood blooming hydrangeas should only be pruned right after blooming.Pruning at the wrong time cuts off future blooms, so timing is key to healthy, flower-filled plants.
Now that the cool fall weather has arrived, the beautiful flowerheads on your hydrangeas are probably papery and brown.
Should you prune them now? It all depends on your growing zone, the type of hydrangea, and if the plant has gone dormant. Here’s everything you need to know to set your plant up for success.
Identify Your Hydrangea Type
The best time to prune a hydrangea to produce the most blooms depends on whether the shrub blooms on new wood (growth produced in the current season) or old wood (growth from the previous season).
Identifying the type of hydrangea will help you determine whether fall pruning will boost or decrease blooming next season.
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When to Prune the Different Types
New wood hydrangeas (panicle and smooth varieties) should be pruned when dormant in early winter, but fall pruning can be done to remove dried blooms and help shape the plant.Old wood hydrangeas (mophead and oakleaf) should only be pruned immediately after flowering in the spring and summer. Most horticulturists recommend stopping pruning after August; pruning in the fall will reduce the number of flowers you get next spring.
Pruning Tip
Have hydrangeas that never bloom? Timing is everything. If you remove the stems that will produce flower buds, you’ll be left with just a nice green shrub.
Prune Appropriately
Panicle and Smooth Hydrangeas (new wood bloomers)
Deadhead blooms. Panicle blooms will remain on the stems until they dry. Deadheading the flowers as they fade during the growing season will help prolong overall blooming.Prune to maintain shape. During the late summer and fall, selectively remove overgrown branches and dried flowers to maintain the shrub’s shape in the garden.Hard prune when dormant. The exact time the plant goes dormant depends on your climate, but should be done in late winter or very early spring. Remove about 1/3 of the total mass to encourage the growth of new wood. If you must remove more than 1/3 of the plant because it is overgrown, be prepared for fewer spring and summer blooms.
Mophead and Oakleaf Hydrangeas (old wood bloomers)
Hydrangeas varieties that bloom on old wood do best with very minimal pruning.
Deadhead blooms. Remove blooms immediately after they fade using by-pass clippers to snip them near the bottom of the blossom. This should be done in summer or very early fall.Remove broken limbs. A broken limb should be removed as soon as it is discovered. Inspect the shrub in the early spring to remove wood that died during the winter due to harsh temperatures.Pruning due to overgrowth. If you must heavily prune an old wood-blooming hydrangea, do it immediately after it blooms. Do not prune later than the end of August. Do not cut more than 1/3 of the total mass or you can risk damaging the plant; if you do, the shrub may not bloom for two years.
4 Additional Tips for Proper Hydrangea Pruning
If a hydrangea, especially an old wood bloomer, is too large for the space, transplant it to another location rather than pruning it severely.
Improving the air circulation of dense hydrangea shrubs by removing entire stems will help lower the risk of diseases like leaf spot.
Check all hydrangea varieties in early spring when they begin to break dormancy to see if any stems have dead tips from winter damage. Stems with live buds will be green on the inside, while dead stems will be brown.
Make pruning cuts 1/4 inch above the first set of live buds.
FAQ
What should I do to my hydrangea in the fall?
Other than removing dried flowerheads, hydrangeas should not be pruned until the plant has gone dormant, which typically occurs after the first frost.
When is the best time to prune hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood (mophead and oakleaf varieties) should be pruned immediately after they finish blooming. Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood growth are best pruned in winter or very early spring.
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