When to prune hydrangeas for optimal growth?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Properly pruning your hydrangeas depends on knowing the bloom type of your plant. If you have an old wood hydrangea, such as a mophead, you'll want to cut the plant once it has finished blooming in July. If you have a new wood variety, such as a panicle hydrangea, your shrub will benefit from a March cut. Choose the wrong cut and you may disable your shrub's ability to bloom for next year. Just as the sharpness of your shears matters, so does the timing of their use.
I had a client's oakleaf hydrangea I pruned in April once, and it failed to produce blossoms for two seasons. While it's typically safe to remove dead wood at any point throughout the year, removing live wood needs to be made more carefully. Frigid zones 5-6 provide an opportunity for spring pruning, but this should happen well into the season. It's still a good idea to scratch test stems with a thumbnail before cutting. A green thumbnail signifies you'll have blooms.
Tool Kit Basics
- Bypass pruners for live stems ≤¾" thick
- Loppers with 24" handles for high branches
- Folding pruning saw for tight spaces
Regional Adjustments
- Zones 4-5: Prune new wood types in late April
- Zones 9-10: Start winter pruning in February
- Coastal areas: Delay cuts until salt spray residue clears
Read the full article: When to Prune Hydrangeas: A Step-by-Step Guide
