How to Prune Hydrangeas
Posted by Jessie Jacobson on Mar 27th 2025
How to Prune Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a staple in any Zone 4 (but we are now classified as 5!) garden. We love them and can't ever get enough. Their glorious blooms are the sweet reward at summer's end. Hydrangea season is upon us its time to start pruning Panicle Hydrangeas.
Hydrangea paniculata are part to full sun Hydrangeas, often larger shrubs that bloom with large, long-lasting, conical or lacecap panicles of flowers on new wood (the current season’s growth).
Pruning Hydrangeas is important to overall plant health, appearance, and maintenance of their natural shape. Pruning also promotes fresh growth and encourages flowering. With regular pruning, the risk of disease and decline is greatly reduced as an open, healthy plant promotes good air flow.
Shrubs to prune in early spring
Prune shrubs that bloom on new wood (buds are formed on new growth during the current growing season), in late winter or early spring. In our area, this is late March or early April. You may also prune this type of shrub in the fall, but most gardeners like to leave dried blooms for winter interest.
- Panicle Hydrangeas
- Japanese Spirea
- Roses
- Japanese Barberry
- Summersweet
- Smokebush
- Cotoneaster
Remove
- Dead, damaged, and diseased branches
- Unwanted branches (top 1/3, old blooms, duplicate/parallel, sprouts, rubbing branches)
- Overgrown smaller twigs and branches
- Thick old growth, to the ground, when renovating or refreshing.
- Once established, it is okay to remove 30% - 50% of your shrub with each pruning.
Make Cuts
- At a 45-degree angle
- Just above a bud or set of leaves
- Just above a side branch
- At the node, where one branch or twig attaches to another being careful not to cut into the branch collar which functions to close off the wound at the cut.
- All the way to the ground; a well-established shrub (one that is a few years old) will benefit from removing the oldest wood down to the ground, about 1/3 each year. This is called renewal pruning.