There areseveral species of hydrangea, and each blooms a little differently.
Let’s run down some of the most popular hydrangeas and what to do.
Cutting it back more modestly produces many more, but smaller clusters.
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This summer-flowering species likes the sun and is often trained into a tree 15 to 25 feet high.
Remove thin and spindly growth.
The leaves turn a striking burgundy red in fall.
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Most selections, such as the standard blue, ‘Nikko Blue,’ bloom on last year’s growth.
When To Prune:Before pruning, wait until they start leafing out in spring.
You’ll probably notice some stems are light brown with no signs of life.
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Prune them back to just above where you see fat, green buds starting to open.
Most of these buds should produce flowers.
There are exceptions to these guidelines, however.
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Pruning Mountain Hydrangeas
Mountain hydrangea (H. serrata) looks like a compact, lace-cap hydrangea.
When To Prune:Mountain hydrangea doesn’t require much pruning because of its tidy size.
If you want to reduce the plant’s size, prune it immediately after flowering.
Credit: Ralph Lee Anderson
Pruning Climbing Hydrangeas
Climbing hydrangea (H. anomala)is a vigorous, lacy, white-flowered vine.
However, it takes a few years after planting to really get going.
Branches that stray from their support should be trimmed just above a bud after flowering.
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you could also remove spent flowers if you like.
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