How To Prune All Hydrangea Varieties // Pruning Hydrangeas // Northlawn Flower Farm

How to prune all types of hydrangeas. Start by identifying what variety of hydrangea you will be pruning. Panicle and smooth hydrangeas can be pruned down by a third, while big leaf, mountain, and oakleaf hydrangeas should just be dead headed.
Panicle and Smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood so it's safe to prune them. However, big leaf, mountain, and oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood so pruning them in spring would mean you are cutting off all the blooms.
The best time to prune is in late winter/early spring when the buds begin to swell. Cut just above a node removing about 1/3 of the plant. You can also remove any dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches at this time.
You can find many of the beautiful hydrangeas I mentioned at Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs - colorchoiceplants.com/
Invincibelle Spirit II - www.provenwinners.com/plants/...
Limelight Hydrangea - www.provenwinners.com/plants/...
Pinky Winky Hydrangea - www.provenwinners.com/plants/...
Let's Dance Rave Hydrangea - www.provenwinners.com/plants/...
Tuff Stuff Ah- ha Hydrangea - www.provenwinners.com/plants/...
Gatsby Gal Hydrangea - www.provenwinners.com/plants/...

[@carolynvenema1019]

My pinky winky is HUGE! I taught my granddaughters to say "pinky winky hydrangea paniculata". They have had lots of fun with that!

[@eileenv8940]

You have explained this confusing topic so clearly and so well...thank you for giving us the confidence we need to begin pruning our hydrangeas!

[@carolinaelizabethart]

You’re always so generous with the information you share and how you share it. Thank you so much! 💚🌿

[@740Showerzz]

Thank you so much for explaining how to determine each variety of hydrangea and the pruning technique for each one. Extremely helpful video, Danielle!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

"Just to make it super confusing for everybody" 😂 so true!

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

Thank you so much for putting this video on Danielle it was much needed 🪴🌺🪴

[@pwcolorchoice]

Your knowledge and passion in the garden really shines! Great work as always :)

[@GardeningOnTaylorMountain]

Great video as always! Thanks for the reminder. Pruning my Panicles and smooths has been on my to do list as well as fertilizing them! I’ve got quite a bit of deadheading to do on my Macrophyllas too. Happy spring!!

[@caitlyns9587]

This was so helpful! You definitely have a knack for explaining things in a clear, direct way. I just planted some invincible spirit II hydrangeas last year but I’m in zone 3 so still have to wait a bit.

[@wildberrygarden]

This video is so useful! I was unsure how to prune my hydrangeas. Thank you so much!

[@maryhelenhayes6859]

Thank you for the great information!

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Great timing Danielle, will be heading out to do that this weekend 😁

[@mariap4828]

This was very informative. I made that mistake one year. Thank you.

[@mdeysenroth]

Thank you! I was so confused, but your explanation and instructions made it clear to me what kind of Hydrangea I have and what I need to do. I am hopeful for full blooms this year!

[@phishphan6596]

This is an extremely clear and helpful video. You have decoded much of the mystery around hydrangeas.

[@savannam.7048]

I realize this video is older but it is so clear and concise with great visual aids that it made figuring out which hydrangeas I have and how to prune (or not prune!) them a breeze! I love gardening but the beautiful hydrangeas under my care were inherited from my mother, so I had no idea what type of variety they could be. I have figured out their type at least, and can deadhead them with confidence! Thank you for your content and I look forward to checking out other videos from your channel 😊

[@laurieaugust-digiacomo1554]

Thank you for clearly explaining. I will watch it again and take notes!💁

[@trytoplaypiano]

Thank you for your excellent demonstration, illustrations, with descriptions!

[@zalehaburude7752]

Hydrangeas is a Beautiful Flowers...i love it...😍 😍 😍 Thank you for sharing your great work...

[@foodforestnextdoor4534]

It's so funny you put out this video as I just pruned my hydrangeas yesterday. Glad to see I did it correctly.

[@nicolechew1029]

I did mine yesterday too! 😅

[@marylynnhaynes7558]

Me too. Lol

[@lrieke8300]

You simplified life! Thank you.

[@leahjunkins988]

Thank you for a very helpful video. I was really unsure about the type of hydrangeas I had in my 8B yard but now I know. Deadhead only for me. 😀Thanks again!!

[@mfcabrini]

Thank you very much. This is the best explanation of how to dead head mopheads. I've gardened for years, but this is my first year in the Pacific Northwest near the coast. I've never had hydrangeas before and have one that's old and over grown. I will take out all the dead stuff and crossing branches as well as dead flowers.

[@dawnbrown5331]

Thank you. I was intimidated to prune my hydrangea but now I'm going to try! So clearly explained

[@debbieholst3720]

I know this is an older video but wow. Now I know why my small blue did not bloom this year. Cut it back last year. Thank you so much! I learn so much from your channel. Happy I found you 🥰

[@joycewest8253]

Thank you so much! So well done. Really appreciate your posting this.

[@elsacroft6382]

You always have an easy way to teach us how to do things right! thank you for the great information

[@carolinaelizabethart]

Yes. She does! 💚🌿

[@jeannet9592]

Such great information and instruction. Thank you!

[@michaelwilliams4598]

Thank you so much. You taught me how to pruned my different types of hydrangeas and when to prune. Thanks again.

[@user-jm5mm1mv1g]

The video was done very well and helped reinforce what I have been doing and understood how to do.

[@rdarrett3635]

Thanks for the reminders.

[@sarahlockridge7879]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@lilianne478]

Thank you for your clear, concise, informative video. You have given me the confidence to care for my hydrangeas without fear of killing them.

[@lauraallen9720]

Love all your videos

[@trust.the.process3023]

Thanks for sharing i just moved to my new home 5 months ago and there a a couple of hydrangeas .

[@jfboomerang1310]

Great job. Very helpful.

[@seeingthesitzes4333]

Useful info as usual 🌸 Thanks

[@jacobprestage42]

Great video

[@susancaul235]

Thank you. Great information

[@karenschwartz5209]

Great, thanks!

[@lindapowers6845]

Can't wait for hydrangea season!

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

Me too!

[@jacobprestage42]

Informative

[@lynn682]

Super helpful!! I think I have the big leaf variety. I need this same information for azaleas!

[@MsJsanta]

Thank you!

[@ursulamarmion9727]

very helpful. thank you.

[@marthabourassa7909]

I discovered your channel this evening, and am absolutely thrilled to find another Zone 6B gardener from the Northeast! Thanks for the pruning tips and also the seed starting pointers from an earlier video of yours. (I have some catching up to do!)

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Glad you found her, yes she is in the perfect area for me also😁 where are you in the Northeast?

[@marthabourassa7909]

@@lorrainecourtney4589 I’m in Rhode Island. You?

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

PA 😊

[@margaretjongebloed6386]

This is such a a great informative video. Thank you! I have a hydrangea that I think may look like an oak leaf hydrangea and it was bought already formed to be a tree in my yard. So I am not sure what type it is and if I should just dead head or can cut further down. The colors of the bloom were like an ombré of colors in that cone shaped bloom. Thank you for this wonderful video! ❤️

[@sarahgracesings]

This really helped a lot, thank you! Would Haas Halo be under the smooth/aborescens category?

[@pamelakilgus9309]

Great video and explanation of pruning 😍😍😍😍😍 and I have the Invincibelle Spirit on my “must have “ list 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

It's a winner for sure! I hope it will bring you a lot of joy. I ordered 5 more this year. What's better than 1 hydrangea? 6 hydrangeas! Hope you have a great day garden friend!

[@thebadtemperedbrit]

I think my plants might be the second type, that you prune but not cut right back. Unfortunately mine are planted alongside a driveway & they're really growing out into the path of the car, so I need to strim them back. If I do court then back will it kill them or will they just not flower the next year, which I can live with? Many thanks Justin in Ireland.

[@melisacai1992]

HELP! What if you pruned a hydrangea that should've been deadheaded? It'll come back, right? We had a hydrangea bush maybe 3-4 ft(?) tall & 2 ft(?) wide, I misidentified(I think) & I pruned it because it had new growth coming up from the bottom that looked like it couldn't grow higher because of the crowding from what looked like dead branches. I'm not sure if I can calm down or panic, so any insight you could offer would be appreciated. Thanks!

[@kennethsizer9084]

Hello !.. I saw only one bloom on my hydrangea plant this year,towards the back, on the bottom,I was wondering why...

[@Lou_Jones]

I have hydrangeas that were planted in very small flower beds and are getting so big that other flowers are shaded out. I think they’re big leaf but I’m not sure because they were planted by the previous owner. I want to move them somewhere else. Do you have any advice? There’s 9 total hydrangeas in four different beds that are 88”x28”. Thank you in advance!

[@therealbrian732]

I have a question. The ones that you say we should only dead head, how do you keep it from growing to large? The area i have them i cant let it get huge. At that point do you prune it and just have less flowers for tbe next year?

[@justincase7937]

Still cannot figure out what type of hydrangea I have even from this video.

[@kennethsizer9084]

....I can't either!...

[@kathleensecules5591]

I can't either

[@thejillykilly]

Can you share your schedule- when you start what? When to trim or plant it outside? I understand the zone is different, but still will be tremendously helpful.

[@gaillam9574]

What kind of H. macrophylla can you grow in zone 6b?

[@Kim-ql1kj]

I just found your channel and this video. Very clear and helpful, thank you. We have mild winters. When i deadhead my big leaf there are new and also older green leaves still attached. Should I leave all the green leaves? No pun intended 😊

[@harbourheightsja2383]

What if your mop head has never Bloom, what do you do?

[@nicolericcio4833]

What if I need to cut back a big leaf hydrangea? We have 2 in our yard that are enormous and block our path to the front door. Can I reduce the size without ruining them?

[@joeschiavi9615]

I have been so unsure about how to prune my hydrangeas and was just thinking I need to figure it out and then saw your video! I have one question about the panicle- which I believe to be what I have .. you say they grow on new wood, however the new blooms come on the same branches as previous years, (I’ve never pruned them) and not starting new from the ground like I notice with small ball like pink and blue hydrangeas..My hydrangea has long branches with huge white plumes, prefers sun and the branches do not die back, is that considered new wood? I hope that question is clear, It’s more of a clarification about new wood - thanks so much 😊 Lauren

[@kmarch6630]

Best information on trimming hydrangeas I've seen. I dont know the names of the hydrangeas I have but I know the type of blooms they have so this helps. One question- for the ones I shouldn't prune in spring can i prune them in fall?

[@gaillam9574]

I wouldn’t in fall either. Just remove ugly leaves if you want but don’t prune hard unless for height before September 1.

[@tbear823]

What if my large leaf hydrangea had to have many of it's leaves removed due to black spot fungus, which has left them looking extremely tall, wirey, and leggy. Should I still leave the remaining leaves on the leggy green stems? Btw... Out of 4 hydrangeas, only 2 bloomed this summer and they only bloomed one large mophead flower. I live in zone 8b, and would like to have all of them actually look healthy and bloom next early summer.

[@marlaschaefer2544]

With the 'Big Leaf' hydrangea you pruned, should you also prune out the crossing and spindly branches?

[@msearles28]

I have a 1 year old lime light. I want it to grow as large as it possibly can. With that in mind - should I still prune or just let it grow?

[@cathybolton5852]

My husband cut down a white hydrangea when we bought our house in April 2023. Will it ever come back?

[@debbiwallace4842]

My big leafs are about 5-8 years old. I dead head and remove spent wood every spring. The results have been an increase in both number and size of blooms. They are big and beautiful 🤩 I noticed drooping 2 years ago and this year the blooms are literally just hanging to the ground and there’s way too much branch visibility. Did I do something wrong? How do I regain the shape and stability??

[@inbloom2006]

So glad you posted this! I've been nervous about pruning a hydrangea that has been on my property for at least 15 years without being touched. I'm pretty sure it's a bigleaf, it has blue flowers and my mom (who planted it forever ago) is almost certain it was an "Endless Summer" hydrangea. Does that sound right? And if so if I followed you right that would just need to be deadheaded, right?

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

That definitely sounds right! Yes, just deadheading will do the trick. I hope you have a great day!

[@inbloom2006]

@@NorthlawnFlowerFarm thank you! You as well!

[@mairose7582]

What is deadheading

[@alyssawillson8652]

Thank you for making it so simple!! Prune smooth v. Dead head big leaf... I can remember that! Do you fertilize all your hydrangeas?

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

Hi Alyssa! I spread a layer of compost over my gardens in the spring and fall. Sometimes I'll make comfrey tea if I get around to it - but more often than not - just compost.

[@agnescarbone6815]

What about the Hydrangea that grows on old wood ,do you still cut off the cross branches ? You said in video only dead head

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

Hi Agnes! Yes. Diseased, dead, damaged, or crossing branches can be removed from all varieties of hydrangeas. I hope that's helpful!

[@BeckRD1]

What is dead head?

[@leiaflash5055]

Thank you for sharing lots of pertinent information! ALL of my hydrangeas (including large established oakleaf hydrangeas) have been eaten down to the nubbin by the pesky 'pandemic' rabbits! I need to find something that actually works to keep them away! Anything natural you can recommend?

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

How terrible Leia! Very pesky indeed! Let me ask some friends and get back to you!

[@leiaflash5055]

@@NorthlawnFlowerFarm Thank you :)

[@cynthiafisher9907]

Rabbit stew?

[@leiaflash5055]

@@cynthiafisher9907 LOL - great idea! Too bad I'm a vegetarian ;)

[@cynthiafisher9907]

@@leiaflash5055 Yeah! Lol!

[@justincase7937]

Thank you for showing us your pinky winky! 😜

[@rewbew9345]

What’s the difference between smooth leaf and big leaf hydrangeas?

[@NorthlawnFlowerFarm]

Hi Becky! Smooth hydrangeas bloom earlier than bigleaf hydrangeas and bear either white or pink flowers. Their foliage is a matte textured and of thinner substance than bigleaf hydrangeas. Their woody brown stems are a bit more slender, too. Big lead hydrangeas bloom pink and blue (and some white although those are more rare in my area) and they have broad, thick, textured foliage and stout, green stems.

[@rewbew9345]

@@NorthlawnFlowerFarm thanks !

[@anitaedger5402]

Can we prune in late fall? Or is it always early Spring?

[@loominglegends]

Wondering the same

[@larryburdick974]

Maybe spend a bit more time identifying the different varieties.

[@SueBull-lj3jj]

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