Marianne's Response

Pruning hydrangeas (Don’t do it!)

Your last column said not to prune hydrangeas now. Our plants are way overgrown and need pruning. I was waiting for them to finish blooming which just took place. Can I prune them now?

Posted by on September 18, 2014

Marianne's Response

Well congrats on your huge hydrangeas. They must be very happy in your garden! Hydrangeas do best when never pruned—when they are allowed to grow as large as nature intended. If you must shorten them a bit, remove old branches or long branches in mid spring or early summer. Most mop head hydrangeas bloom on two-year-old wood, so pruning every year means no flowers. Look for the new \"Endless Summer\" hydrangeas that flower on both old and new wood if you must prune your hydrangeas. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti