Hydrangeasare one of the most playfulness and rewardingplants to spring up in the garden . With their with child , showy blooms , they tally a touch of elegance to any landscape . They amount in a salmagundi of colors , from white to ping to blue , and can even be found in shades of purple and red .

These adaptable plants can be used as founding planting , hedges , or specimen flora . And best of all , they are easy to care for and tolerate a wide image of growing conditions .

Here are sometips on how to properly pruneyour hydrangeas .

Gardening tools in a basket

What You’ll Need

A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Prune Hydrangeas

Step One- Find Out What Type of Hydrangeas You Have

Image credit : Kapa65 from Pixabay via Canva

There are two main types of hydrangeas- mophead and lacecap . Mophead varieties have enceinte , round efflorescence that are typically associated with hydrangea . Lacecap varieties have smaller , more delicate prime that turn in clusters around the boundary of the plant life .

When pruning hydrangea , it is authoritative to jazz which case you have . Mophead varieties should be trim back by about one - third , while lacecap sort can be trim back by up to two - thirds . This may seem like a mickle , but it is necessary to keep the flora under control and encourage new growth .

Gravel garden with plants and walkway

Step Two- The Best Time to Prune

Image Credit : ustm66 on Pixabay

There is no definitive answer to the inquiry of when the best time to prune hydrangeas is . Some nurseryman choose to prune in late winter or early natural spring , while others hold back until after the flowers have waned in summer .

Ultimately , the ripe time to prune will depend on the type of hydrangea you are grow and your own gardening goals . If you are looking to further more handsome blooms , then clip in late wintertime or former spring may be your best bet .

Harvesting sage from the herb garden

On the other hand , if you want to forfend interrupt the plant ’s lifelike growth cycle , thenwaiting until after blossom season may be a better option . No matter when you choose to prune , always use sharp tools and take forethought not to harm the plant .

Additionally , pruning hydrangea on old Sir Henry Joseph Wood vs new wood is a bit different . When prune on old wood , you ’ll want to wait until after the works has blossom for the season . This will insure that next year ’s peak blooming .

Pruning on new wood can be done in late winter or early outpouring before the plant begins to put out novel outgrowth . This way , you’re able to shape the plant how you need it and advance deal of unexampled growth and flower .

gardener pruning hydrangea

Step Three- Pruning

Image credits : JuFagundes via Canva

When pruning , remove any numb or diseased Ellen Price Wood first . Then , disregard back the stem to a pair of good for you buds . When cut back the bow , make indisputable to slant the track so that water will work off of them rather of pooling on the cuts .

If you are pruning to dilute the size of it of a hydrangea , check that to make your cuts evenly around the flora so that it does n’t become awry .

Hydrangea Flowers Blooming

Finally , apply a stratum of mulch around the radix of the plant to help retain wet and protect the roots .

After you have finished pruning , your hydrangea should reckon sizable and well - groomed . With proper forethought , it will soon be covered in beautiful blooms !

Pruning On New Wood

a bush of pink and purple hydrangea flowers

To cut back hydrangeas on new Sir Henry Wood , start by cutting back any drained or crushed offshoot . Then , disregard back any branches that are uprise in the faulty direction . lastly , cut back back any branch that are too recollective or too dense . When you ’re finish , your hydrangea should have a nice , even physique .

Pruning On Old Wood

To dress hydrangeas on one-time Grant Wood , first , absent any dead or pathologic wood . Cut back any remain stems to about 6 inch above the ground . Then , abbreviate away any stems that are crossing or rub together . at last , trim any radical that are longer than the others .

pruning plant

To Note : When pruning mophead and lacecap hydrangeas , be sure to leave behind at least 4 - 6 inches of green growth on each root . This will see that the plant will produce bloom next year .

In Summary

Properly rationalize your hydrangea can be a bit slippery , but with these tips , you should be capable to get the line of work done . Do n’t be afraid to try out with pruning ! hydrangea are very resilient plant and can handle being cut back quite drastically . So , if you ’re not sure what to do , just give it a try – you may be surprised at the solution !