Landscape Design Blog | Avon Landscaping - Pruning

The Best Time to Prune Hydrangea Trees

Posted By Avon Landscaping
May 15, 2018 Category: Pruning

Do you have a hydrangea plant, but are not sure when to prune it? You’re not alone! Hydrangea trees are a common plant throughout Northeast Ohio. They come in many varieties and offer beautiful, colorful blooms and multiple blooming cycles, making it a desirable addition to any yard or garden. Once you get a pruning schedule in place, they are easy to maintain. Caring for hydrangeas and knowing when to prune them can be confusing given the many varieties, but overall, they are hardy trees that will stay colorful and healthy if you follow a few pruning tips. Know the Type of Hydrangea You Have Pruning your hydrangea properly depends on the type that you have. Different types of hydrangeas require pruning at different times of the year. For example, for smooth hydrangeas such as Annabelles, you’ll want to wait until they finish blooming before cutting them back. Pruning in late fall or early spring before new growth begins will bring new blooms all summer.  Big Leaf and Oakleaf hydrangeas should be pruned no later than early fall, otherwise you may cut off buds preventing any blooms come summer. For these types of hydrangeas, it’s best to prune immediately after flowering. Paniculata or PeeGee hydrangeas offer a bit more flexibility, but in general, they should be pruned in early spring before new growth appears. Other hydrangeas such as climbing hydrangeas may require very little pruning. How to Prune Properly To prune your hydrangeas, start