Should I prune hydrangeas in fall or spring?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.The decision on whether to prune hydrangeas in the fall versus the spring will determine the blooms on next year's growth. Hydrangeas with old wood varieties such as bigleaf hydrangeas will form flower buds in the late summer, the fall prune will remove the previously formed flower buds and expose stems to only bare stems in the spring. I have rescued gardens where clients have cut their hydrangeas way too early; you can't rush!
Spring pruning is a great way to evaluate any winter injury. Rather wait and see if new leaves emerge along stems. If the branch is still bare by May, cut it back to ground level. I used this approach last year on three frost-damaged oakleaf hydrangeas in a zone 6 garden.
Fall Precautions
- Remove only dead/diseased wood after first frost
- Avoid shaping cuts on old wood varieties
- Mulch bases with 4" of pine straw
Spring Priorities
- Shape new wood hydrangeas before bud break
- Sterilize tools with 70% alcohol between plants
- Limit cuts to 25% of plant mass
Read the full article: When to Prune Hydrangeas: A Step-by-Step Guide
