This Charles William Post contains affiliate links . Read full disclosure statement here .
Not all hydrangea gain from pruning and many will not bloom if you do . Use our pruning chart to sleep with which species can be cut back and those that should be leave alone to secure a full flowering season .
For more tips on growing hydrangea , seeWhat to Prune in Fall and What Should waitress .
Deadheading an old hydrangea bloom. This is not the same as pruning.
Hydrangea Pruning Basics
suppose what ? We have a communication problem !
Hydrangeas are commonly associated with pruning yet they are one shrub that can live without it .
So why the misunderstanding ? I reckon it comes down to using the wordprunewhen we meandeadhead .
Let ’s have a face at some hydrangea growing pourboire to know which varieties should not be pruned , those that can be , and how it ’s done .
Contents
Get the Free PrintableThere ’s a complimentary printable with this clause . Go toResources(below ) to get yours .
Pruning Versus Deadheading
Deadheadingis the remotion of old flower . If your hydrangea has dry , old flower heads , you may remove those any time , no problem !
Just take some cleansnippersand remove the individual flowers by cutting the stems just below the blooms . Done .
Pruningis a different brute and should be done with a specific goal in judgement .
In world-wide , pruning means get rid of outgrowth .
If any Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or shrub has dead , damage , or diseased branches , you may and should remove them at any clock time .
But , otherwise , there areonly two types of hydrangea where annual pruning is advocate — although not essential :
These two species produce flowers onnew wood(current season ’s ontogeny ) . We prune in other saltation to encourage strong limb and full variety . Otherwise , they can get floppy or leggy .
The rest , admit the very pop BigleafHydrangea macrophylla , produce flowers on last season ’s ontogeny ( old wood ) and tend to do fine without snip . If this group ever needs trimming , it should be done immediately after bloom so you are not cutting off the subdivision that would provide next season ’s blooms .
I ’ve provide a handy chart ( below ) .
Again , pruning is still optional for all of them . When in doubt , do n’t !
It can seem overwhelming at first , but , as you get more experienced , you will get an heart for pruning .
And most importantly , always know WHY you are pruning . That move a long way to guide your choices .
When quick and necessary , there is avideo hereshowing how to prune hydrangeas .
Hydrangea Pruning Chart
Smooth Hydrangea| Hydrangea aborescens
Prune – yesLate winter or early spring . Also remove any numb , discredited or diseased branches . Deadhead – yesRemove old flowers and their stems
Panicle Hydrangea| Hydrangea paniculata
Bigleaf Hydrangea| Hydrangea macrophylla
Prune – noRemove dead , damaged , or pathological branches only . Deadhead – yesRemove old flowers and their stem
Mountain Hydrangea| Hydrangea serrata
Oakleaf Hydrangea| Hydrangea quercifolia
Climbing Hydrangea| Hydrangea petiolaris
Ok to Prune These Hydrangeas if Needed
It is fine to prune hydrangeas that flower on new wood ( current year ’s development ) .
Early outflow is prize pruning prison term , when buds are forming but before leaf are opening .
Smooth Hydrangea – Hydrangea arborescens
recent wintertime or other springiness . Also remove any dead , discredited or diseased branches .
Remove honest-to-god flowers and their stems
Panicle Hydrangea – Hydrangea paniculata
Do Not Prune These Hydrangeas
Do not prune hydrangeas that flower on honest-to-god wood ( old time of year ’s growth ) .
The exception is , you could always remove drained , damaged , or diseased branches , and can softly trim for shape immediately after flowering .
Again , it ’s prune that ’s not recommend . Deadheading to remove old flowers and their prompt stems ( only ) is hunky-dory .
you’re able to get a printable version of this industrial plant listhere .
Bigleaf Hydrangea– Hydrangea macrophylla
Remove stagnant , damage , or diseased branches only .
polish off old flowers and their stems .
relate : How to transfer Hydrangea flush From Pink to Blue
Mountain Hydrangea – Hydrangea serrata
Oakleaf Hydrangea – Hydrangea quercifolia
Climbing Hydrangea – Hydrangea petiolaris
Growing Tips
Flowering plants aboriginal to Asia and Americas• Hardiness Zones deviate from 3 to 9•Morning and part sun• Soil : does not like to dry out• Fertilizer : Holly - toneby Espoma in leap only if required.• generation : How to Root Hydrangea Cuttings• Pruning : Need to prune depends on variety• Pink / Blue : See how colouring changes
Quick Ways to Identify Hydrangeas
With approximately 49 species and numerous cultivars , there are lot of hydrangea variations !
And yes , you need to know which character of hydrangea you are rise to know if pruning is recommended .
Again , you’re able to always snip off flowers ( deadhead ) by cut the stem just below the flush , but pruning is unlike . We prune to amend strength and structure and encourage new growth . And , there is no want to prune if you do n’t want to .
With young cultivars on the market every yr , it ’s impossible to write hard and dissipated rule , but these wind can help you distinguish your hydrangea .
And there ’s more help here : How to Identify and Prune Your Hydrangea
Between the verbal description and photos , you will probably know if you ’ve got it right .
Ecological Garden Note
Which hydrangea are most attractive to pollinators ? ThisMount Cuba Study(Atlantic Region ) encounter these lacecap hydrangeas have “ readily approachable fertile bloom , each contain pollen and nectar rewards that draw a terrific miscellanea of insect pollinator . ”
How to Prune Hydrangeas
Once you know if and when to prune , this video shows you how to prune .
television Notes
Again , it ’s not life and death if you do not lop any of your hydrangea . You will hear plenty of gardeners say , ‘ I just chop up them back to the ground and they do very well each year ’ . Personally , I ’d hold off trusting that until I was certain which variety they have and when and how they did it .
The prudent path is to proceed with caution , know what you ’re growing , and get an eye for how the cuts are done , so , when it is an opportune clock time , you’re able to snip ( if call for ) with authority .
Resources
EmpressofDirt
FREETIPSHEET
Hydrangea Pruning Tips
File includes a brief overview of various hydrangea and whether or not they require routine pruning .
~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛
