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Do you trim back hydrangeas


When to prune hydrangeas for best bloom

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Hydrangeas are one of the most popular blooming woody shrubs in Minnesota landscapes and, as you’d expect, people often ask how and when to prune these beloved shrubs.

Heading cuts redirect growth or shorten small branches. The high point of a heading cut should be about 1/4" above a bud.

Hydrangea paniculata, panicle hydrangea

Prune back stems to just above a fat bud — called a heading cut — in fall, late winter or spring. These plants have conical-shaped flower heads. I recommend leaving the dry, tan flower heads on the plant to provide some winter interest in your landscape, so I wait to prune these until late winter or spring. Some favorite panicle hydrangeas:

Hydrangea macrophylla, big leaf hydrangea This original Endless Summer inspired a large series of other H. macrophylla developed by Bailey Nurseries.

These plants produce buds in late summer to early fall (August-September) that will form next year’s flowers. So prune these shrubs after they finish blooming before August (again, make a heading cut).

An exception is the Endless Summer® The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla 'Bailmer' PP15,298) and other cultivars in the Endless Summer series from Bailey Nurseries such as Blushing Bride, BloomStruck® , Summer Crush®, and Twist ‘n’ Shout®.

The H. macrophylla bloom on last year’s wood and new wood that grows this year. So it will bloom whether you prune it or not. Protect H. macrophylla in winter from rabbit browsing on the stems with a large, 4-foot tall ring of hardware cloth.

The Endless Summer hydrangea made a huge splash on the Minnesota landscape plant scene because of its pink to blue color flowers (achievable with proper soil amendment) and because it blooms on old and new wood.

Hydrangea arborescens, smooth hydrangea

Let these plants grow a season or two before doing any serious "hard" pruning. Once the shrub is established and has a couple of growing seasons under its belt, prune these hydrangeas in the spring down to the ground, or not at all if you want a larger shrub. Flower buds will grow on this season’s growth or new wood.

Some favorite smooth hydrangeas: 

Hydrangea petolaris or climbing hydrangea

This tough, gnarly vine needs little to no pruning ever, except for removing any dead wood that develops.

Plant this vine in full sun on a solid trellis or fence where you want a long-living, dense screen. It is a dickens to get rid of once it gets established.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Quick Fire® hydrangea. Notice the wall color matches the late summer bloom color. This was intentional! Annabelle, a tried-and-true fixture in Minnesota landscapes

Author: Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator, horticulture

Reviewed by Debbie Lonnee, Product Development Manager, Bailey Nurseries.

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How to prune hydrangeas: to keep them healthy and flowering

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Popular flowering shrubs, we must learn how to prune hydrangeas correctly to get the best from them, maximize blooms and to ensure that they can survive through winter.  

Hydrangeas make a great statement piece in a bed, border or in containers. They put on a spectacular display of flowers in the summer, and then die back in winter. Tolerant of a wide range of soil and light conditions, apart from a little pruning, hydrangeas require almost no maintenance. 

While learning how to grow hydrangeas is relatively simple – make sure you know when to plant hydrangeas and when to prune hydrangeas too – they can be disappointing over time if they are not correctly maintained through pruning and deadheading. Luckily, this is an easy skill to learn.

They range in color from white to pink, pale blue to deep purple. Their large, clustered flower heads, made up of lots of smaller flowers, make them a highly attractive and decorative plant, and there are many choices for what to plant with hydrangeas. Some of the flower heads are also wonderful for enduring floral displays indoors if you learn how to dry flowers. 

The way that you prune your hydrangea will depend on the variety that you have. Here we will look at the different types and how to prune them hydrangeas.

How to prune hydrangeas – for beginners

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Hydrangeas are generally pretty low maintenance shrubs, and among the best flowering shrubs. Once you have identified the variety that you have in your garden, it's easy to get to grips with how to prune hydrangeas. 

Some of these fast growing shrubs flower on old wood and some on new wood, so it is important to prune them the correct way so as to not detrimentally affect their flowering. 

'Pruning hydrangeas will help the formation of new flowers and promote good shape,' explains Ian Wright, garden consultant at National Trust , which boasts dramatic displays of hydrangeas in many of its gardens as flower bed ideas.

(Image credit: Future)

Pruning mophead hydrangeas and lacecaps

(Image credit: National Trust)

The method for pruning mophead hydrangeas and lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)  – also known as bigleaf hydrangeas – is the same.

Mophead hydrangeas are a common choice for gardens with their full, roundish heads of large petals in shades of blue, pink, green and white. This makes them a popular shrub choice for cottage garden ideas and they also make good shrubs for shade.

Lacecap hydrangeas are identified by tiny flowers in the center of the bloom and an outer border of larger petals.

These varieties should be pruned in late winter or early spring. 

As a way to winterize hydrangeas, 'it’s best to leave the faded blooms in place over the winter to protect tender new buds from frost damage,' advise the experts at Thompson & Morgan

When pruning mophead hydrangeas and lacecaps in early spring:

How to prune climbing hydrangeas

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Catherine McQueen)

Climbing hydrangeas, such as Hydrangea anomola subsp. petiolaris, Hydrangea seemannii or H. serratifolia are pruned in summer, after flowering.

The reason that climbing hydrangeas are pruned in summer is because the flowers are produced on the previous year's wood. If they are pruned earlier in spring, before flowering, the blooms for that year will be sacrificed. 

'Prune Hydrangea petiolaris immediately after flowering to shorten any branches growing out from the wall or support, otherwise only light pruning is required to remove dead or damaged stems,' advises gardening expert Sarah Raven .

Most flowers appear at the top of these flowing climbers, so the RHS advise to leave as much of this unpruned as possible.

How to prune Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens

(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny)

Hydrangea Paniculata with its cone-like heads of blooms, and Hydrangea aborescens with its spherical flower heads, are also pruned in early spring.

Other types of hydrangea, including Hydrangea aspera and Hydrangea quercifolia, need only light pruning in spring. Simply remove dead flower heads and overlong or crossing stems.

(Image credit: Stephanie Klepacki / Unsplash)

What happens if you don't prune hydrangeas?

If you don't prune hydrangeas then they can eventually resemble a tangled mass of woody stems, and the flowers will become smaller and less showy. If your hydrangeas are not blooming, lack of pruning is often a reason.

Regular pruning of hydrangeas helps to maintain their shape and also encourages new growth and a better display of blooms. 

'It's this strong, new growth that ensures you have lots of large, healthy flowers to enjoy in the years to come,' explain the experts at Thompson & Morgan.

(Image credit: National Trust)

Do you cut off dead hydrangea blooms?

Deadheading hydrangeas – or removing spent flowers from the stem to encourage better blooming later on – can be done with some hydrangeas but not all.

The RHS recommends that dead blooms should only be removed from mophead hydrangeas after flowering in mild areas. Their advice is that it is better to leave the flowerheads on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection. 

In addition, by leaving the dried flowers on the plant, they will provide interest in the garden through to spring, and can be a stunning sight when covered in a coating of frost.

The flowers on the hardier lacecaps, however, can be deadheaded after flowering.

How far back should you prune hydrangeas?

Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea serrata, Hydrangea quercifolia, and Hydrangea aspera can be cut back, in spring, as far as the first pair of buds. You are essentially removing the dead flower heads. You can also open the plant up a little and improve its shape by cutting back one or two of the oldest, largest stems. Cut these back right to the ground to encourage new growth. 

Hydrangea aborescens and Hydrangea paniculata produce flowers on new growth and can therefore be cut back harder after flowering. You don’t actually need to prune these varieties, but you can do it to keep them from getting too tall. 

(Image credit: John Swithinbank)

What is the best way to prune hydrangeas?

The best way to prune hydrangeas, as with all pruning, should be carried out with a sharp, clean pair of gardening tools. This is to create a clean cut that is less prone to infection. The way that you prune your hydrangea will depend on the variety that you have, and to some extent the condition of the plant. 

If you find that your way of pruning is not yielding good blooms or a healthy plant, you may want to change your approach. Observe your plant through spring and summer to determine where it flowers from, old or new growth. Then prune according to this guide. 

This feature was created by H&G sister brand, Period Living magazine

Subscribe to Period Living for more inspiration  

Period Living is the UK's best-selling period homes magazine. A subscription provides you with all you need to know about caring for and improving a traditional house and garden

Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.

What to plant next to a hydrangea: 6 options for an ideal neighborhood

Flower growers lovingly call hydrangea the princess of the garden. It is beautiful in single plantings, but looks especially good in combination with other ornamental plants. There can be many such combinations. When drafting them, it is important that the interests of all cultures are taken into account. Let's figure out what to plant next to paniculate or tree hydrangea.

All about choosing neighbors for a flowering plant

Where to plant a flower bush
Good neighborhood
Dangerous neighborhood
Is it possible to plant different types of hydrangeas side by side

Good neighbors for hydrangea, this is the second name of an ornamental shrub, will be cultures that prefer the same living conditions with it. Let's clarify what a flower needs for normal growth.

Choosing what to plant next to the hydrangea is only necessary among moisture-loving and light-loving plants living on slightly acidic soils.

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Despite the special growing conditions, there are many options for a favorable neighborhood for this plant. It can be perennials, low bushes and trees. It is important that the plants do not compete for light and moisture, then they will get along well next to each other. Let's analyze which neighbors are suitable for the most popular varieties of ornamental shrubs: paniculate and tree-like. nine0003

Paniculata is a tall hydrangea. It resembles a tree with lush, brightly flowering inflorescences. It grows up to two meters, blooms from mid-July until the autumn cold. Tree-like varieties are more like bushes. They are low, with rounded lush inflorescences. We list some of the best neighborhood options for both varieties.

1. Coniferous

Coniferous - an excellent background for lush flowering ornamental shrubs. They are undemanding in care, can live on acidified soil, if necessary, they can shade hydrangea. Suitable neighbors for her will be dwarf pines or spruces, tall junipers, thujas. They are planted at a distance of 1.5-1.7 m from flower bushes, preferably from the south. So conifers will close the flower from the burning rays of the sun. nine0003

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Juniper is used to create a multi-level design. The undersized conifer goes well with flowering bushes. Dark green carved juniper twigs beautifully set off delicate hydrangea flowers. If the juniper gets too tall, cut it back. Both plants love partial shade and slightly acidic soil, so they are comfortable growing side by side. nine0003

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2. Spirea

The combination with spirea is one of the most popular among landscape designers. Spirea blooms in spring, and fades in early July. Around this time, hydrangea blooms and fades only in autumn. This gives the effect of continuous flowering, which is very much appreciated by flower growers. The development conditions for both crops are similar, so there are no special requirements for planting. The only thing to consider is the height of the bushes. Spirea - below hydrangea, it is undesirable to be too shaded. nine0003

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3. Astilba

Relatively low tree-like varieties go well with astilba. Inflorescences of different shapes are perfectly combined. Shades can be chosen contrasting or, conversely, close in tone. Plants are approximately the same in size, do not interfere with each other to develop normally. Both shrubs bloom for a long time and luxuriantly. They are planted as part of various compositions in flower beds or alternated in a low hedge. nine0003

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4. Roses

The combination of delicate elongated hydrangea inflorescences and bright lush roses looks very beautiful. Therefore, flower growers are interested in whether it is possible to plant roses next to hydrangeas. It is possible, but subject to certain requirements. Shrubs can compete fiercely for nutrients and water. Thus, it is necessary to plant them at a sufficient distance. The schedule of watering and top dressing will be different, it is set depending on the variety of planted crops. nine0003

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5. Hosta

Low hosta bushes with drop-shaped leaves with bright edging favorably emphasize the monotonous greenery of hydrangea and the pastel colors of its inflorescences. Shrubs prefer fertile moist soils, but without waterlogging. They also like acidified soil mixtures, so they feel great in the neighborhood. Most often they are planted in a flower bed, creating multi-level compositions. nine0003

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6. Grasses

Ornamental grasses are good companions for tree varieties. They form an unusual background that emphasizes the beauty of the shrub. Grasses are mostly unpretentious, easily take root on slightly acidic soils. Blue fescue, hakonechloa, bulbous ryegrass, soddy pike, millet, miscanthus and other varieties of cereals are planted next to the hydrangea. Together with flowering bushes, they form interesting compositions. nine0003

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These are not all possible options for a good neighborhood. Hydrangea coexists with other shrubs: wild rose, cinquefoil, boxwood, euonymus, lilac. Joint plantings with perennial flowers are possible: crocuses, lilies, daffodils, anemones, chrysanthemums or tulips. Many doubt whether it is possible to plant peonies next to hydrangeas. This is quite possible, since flowers prefer similar conditions. But we must remember that they bloom at different times, so simultaneous flowering will not work. nine0003

Annuals will help bring bright strokes into the flowering picture. In a small penumbra on slightly acidic soil, unpretentious gazania, escholcia, purslane, calceolaria, and heliotrope bloom for a long time and actively. If you plant fragrant tobacco, petunia or similar fragrant plants among them, you can enjoy not only a beautiful view, but also a pleasant aroma.

Instagram pinacolada_garden

Instagram pinacolada_garden

Not all plants get along with hydrangeas. Some oppress them, take away vital resources. They are strongly discouraged from planting near ornamental bushes. Here is a list of crops that are best planted at the other end of the garden.

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Any plant will become an unwanted neighbor for a capricious garden princess if it is planted very close. They will enter into a fierce competition for vital resources. Therefore, when landing, it is imperative to observe the optimal distance for each type. nine0003

Hydrangeas of different varieties and even types coexist perfectly in one area. They need the same conditions, which greatly simplifies care. The only caveat to remember is frost resistance. Russian varieties are more frost-resistant, they can withstand up to -18˚С. Asian or European ones die already at -5 ˚С. Therefore, if specimens of different frost resistance are planted mixed in one area, they are all covered for the winter.

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For joint planting, you can choose varieties that bloom at different times. Then the flowering will be very long. You can plant hydrangeas of different colors, sizes or shapes. They select contrasting or, conversely, harmonious combinations, as you like. In any case, each plant must be left with a sufficient amount of free space for growth. On average, this is 1.5 m in radius for each specimen; for tall ones, this distance is increased. nine0003

Prepared by

Inna Yasinovskaya

Dacha Plants

HOW TO PROPERLY CUT IN SPRING

The question of pruning hydrangeas in spring never loses its relevance. We have collected all the useful tips and provided them with diagrams so that the process is correct and the result pleases all summer. nine0030

Hydrangea is one of the most beautiful and fairly easy-to-care shrubs. However, the question of the correct pruning of hydrangeas in the spring never leaves the top of the most discussed topics. The shortness of time also warms it up - pruning must be carried out before active sap flow, i.e. when the plant is just waking up. In the Urals, this time (depending on the weather) falls on March-April. If you are late, you need to wait for the leaves to appear, and then trim as carefully as possible. nine0003

Important! Pruning must be systematic. For some varieties of hydrangeas, it is shown throughout the season. For others, the size of the inflorescence depends on it (regularly cut off - the inflorescences will be large, let the bush thicken - wait for the flowers to grind). And for almost all varieties, it is shown to form a beautiful dense crown of a shrub.

There are three approaches to pruning that determine the timing and extent of flowering
  1. Short cut. We leave 2-3 kidneys. Thus, we achieve later flowering and the largest possible inflorescences.
  2. Medium cut. We leave 3-4-5 kidneys. Flowering occurs on time in accordance with the variety. In this case, the size of the flower brush will be large or medium, and flowering will be plentiful.
  3. Long cut. We remove from above from 3 to 5 internodes. We provide early flowering, an increase in the number of inflorescences with a decrease in their size.
    4. nine0143

    All hydrangeas need pruning - both those that are planted in the ground and those that live in containers

    General procedure for pruning hydrangeas

    After a suitable day is chosen, we act according to the algorithm:

    • we thin out an adult bush;
    • remove all weak and frozen branches;
    • we cut off the shoots growing inside the bush;
    • if necessary - we make a garter on a support. nine0015
    What kind of pruning does your hydrangea need?

    What kind of pruning your hydrangea needs is determined by its type.

    Examples of pruning different types of hydrangeas

  4. Tree and paniculate hydrangeas bloom on the shoots of the current year. For tree hydrangea, the earliest dates (March) will be optimal, since it grows more slowly than paniculate, and it needs time to form young shoots. For paniculate hydrangea, pruning in April is suitable. nine0015
  5. Large-leaved hydrangea blooms on last year's shoots. It should also be cut off in the early stages, but according to a special scheme - not like a tree. In addition, do not be too zealous: in large-leaved hydrangeas, only old dried inflorescences are removed, as well as weak shoots that have not endured the winter well.
    6. Hydrangea pruning

    Hydrangea pruning

    1. Removal of spherical inflorescences. nine0015
    2. Removal of broken, dead ends of branches.
    3. Complete removal of old branches.
    4. Cutting of null shoots, incapable of flowering, which only take away strength from a flowering bush.

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