When is the best time to prune hydrangeas? How to prune them to get more flowers next year?

Hydrangea pruning time

Hydrangea pruning can be done in summer and autumn. If weak and messy branches are found during its growth period, they need to be cut off as soon as possible to avoid consuming unnecessary nutrients in the potting soil. Note that pruning should be stopped during the budding period, which is around November. The plant must not be pruned at this time.

How to prune hydrangea

1. Cut off withered flowers

Hydrangeas are relatively simple to prune. You only need to prune the yellow and withered flowers appropriately. Place the scissors at the top of the flower stem and cut off the flower heads. This pruning method can make the hydrangea look rounder and more ornamental.

2. Cut off the thin branches

From the root of the hydrangea upwards, only two or three sections of the flower branches are needed, and they should be pruned at the thicker growth positions. The thinner branches should also be cut off. If the hydrangea plant is too thin, it will not only fail to absorb sufficient nutrients, but will also crush the branches after flowering. It is better to cut them off directly than to do this.

3. Leave old branches to prevent flowers from falling.

In autumn, the first thing to do is to prune away the dead and crossed branches, so that more sunlight can penetrate. Keep some old branches to avoid losing balance when the flowers bloom next to them. Leave a complete tree shape when pruning, which is conducive to the hydrangea to bloom normally and will not collapse after flowering.

Things to note when pruning hydrangeas

Hydrangeas will have many messy, overlapping branches and weak branches, which must be pruned off in time. In addition, no matter what stage the plant is in, any diseased and insect-infested branches and leaves must be pruned off to avoid bacterial infection. This will also help the plant grow better. After each pruning, the plant should not be exposed to light, and no watering or fertilizing is required.