Tips on How to Properly Prune Hydrangea

Bigleaf (Hydrangea Macrophylla)

This is one of the most common groups of hydrangeas and is often referred to as lacecaps, mophead, or French hydrangeas. Since bigleaf hydrangea bloom on one-year-old wood, it is advisable to prune within four to six weeks after blooming. Pruning should be selective and focus more on thinning old stems to rejuvenate these plants optimally.

The professionals at Sesmas Tree Service recommend pruning not more than a third or quarter of older stems annually. However, you can reduce long branches and stems to shape it better, which also applies to oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), which blooms on old wood. Both types of hydrangeas can be pruned in the same manner to maximize growth and plant health. Avoid pruning oakleaf and bigleaf hydrangea heavily during early spring or late summer since pruning during this time reduces the flower buds for the next cycle.

Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangeas Paniculate)

The panicle hydrangeas include smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) and pee gee hydrangea, which grow on new wood late or midsummer. We recommend pruning these species during early spring or in winter significantly since they can withstand a severe reduction of foliage. Smooth hydrangea, including the commonly found cultivar ‘Annabelle,’ is usually pruned nearly to the ground during early spring or winter.

Panicle hydrangea can also withstand severe pruning, but if you have trained it into a tree form, you shouldn’t go to the ground. Thinning the plant to remove conflicting and crossing branches while selectively reducing to maintain a desired shape and size goes a long way in maintaining your plant as a tree form.