Hydrangeas are a gorgeous addition to any garden. The big blooms on these shrubs are spectacular—and the plants themselves are fairly easy to take care of.
If you’re curious about how to prune hydrangeas, grab your shears and let’s garden!
When to Prune Your Hydrangeas
It’s good to get into the habit of pruning every year. You’ll need to prune different hydrangeas at different times, though. There are two main types in the Hydrangea macrophylla family: lacecap hydrangeas and mophead hydrangeas. We’ll also cover oakleaf hydrangeas and panicle hydrangeas.
Mophead Hydrangeas
The blue, purple or pink hydrangeas you see in your grocery store’s florist section? They’re mopheads. You may know that these varieties change color depending on the type of soil they’re planted in. Mopheads don’t need heavy pruning, but a snip here and there does encourage new growth. Just trim off dead growth once the shrub has finished flowering.
Lacecap Hydrangeas
The same is true of lacecaps. Don’t go overboard with pruning! Lacecaps also bloom on old wood, so just deadhead them once they’re done at the end of the season.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Oakleaf hydrangeas are another type that require old wood to flower. Once again, a light cut to remove dead growth once summer’s over is all you need.
Panicle Hydrangeas
Panicle hydrangeas are instantly recognizable for their unique cone shape. These flower on new wood. You can prune them anytime except during the summer. If you want to reshape the shrub, trim stems back while the plant is dormant (late winter once the risk of frost has passed), about a foot or so from its base.
How to Prune Hydrangeas
First things first—make sure your shears are sharp! Then, no matter which type of hydrangea you have, don’t prune more than one-third of the shrub. If you’re not 100% sure what variety of hydrangea you have, play it safe and simply deadhead it.
Editor’s Tip: Be sure to give your hydrangea plenty of water when the temperatures creep up. During the height of summer, the soil is prone to drying out. Depending on where you live, you’ll want to break out the hose every other day or so.
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The post Here’s How to Prune Hydrangeas for the Perfect Summer Bloom appeared first on Taste of Home.
Camille Berry