How to Prune Big Leaf Hydrangea for Maximum Flowers (Hydrangea macrophylla)

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Are you nervous about pruning your Hydrangea? Well in this video I show you exactly how and where to prune your big leaf Hydrangea macrophylla so that you can ensure the very best growth with the most flowers possible. I also demonstrate the removal of old dead woody growth to help encourage the healthiest Hydrangea you've ever grown.

[@gloriakhayyam3673]

Hello Devin. Thank you so much for the information. You gave very clear instructions and demonstrated exactly how and when to prune my hydrangeas. I am no longer confused, because you answered all of my questions. I am confident that I can be successful at growing Big Leaf Hydrangeas.😊

[@plantvibrations]

Yayyy! Love hearing that!

[@jessicamal2464]

I have read through numerous articles and watched who knows how many videos just trying to find the exact info (how to correctly prune back a big leaf to control growth) you provided very simply here. The rest were just repeats of each other, never getting to what I really needed to know. Thank you!

[@plantvibrations]

That makes me so happy to hear! i try to make my videos based on what I figure out through my own trials and errors and learning from other gardeners, so i hope the information is always pertinent!

[@GenerationsTogetherRecipes]

Excellent video - thank you very much. No annoying music - just clear, simple information.

[@plantvibrations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@monsieuro711]

Thank you very much! This was so helpful. I’ve just watched a few of your other videos. They are all well done! You have a beautiful garden. I like your style. That striped sweater looks so cute on you! lol 😊 I subscribed! 🎉

[@plantvibrations]

You're very welcome!

[@kimm9289]

Thank you so much. This video helped me a lot. I finally know where to prune to get more blooms next year, and now I know that it is ok to chop the dead wood, and the proper way to do it.

[@plantvibrations]

Happy to help!!

[@charley711away]

Thank you! I have 2 HUGE white bigleaf hydrangeas that in the past had been cut down to their bases every year!! This past summer although the hydrangea grew all the green stems back to full height only flowers were at the base (1 foot above ground). This past fall I stated "I FORBID YOU CUTTING THESE DOWN!" This spring all the "looks dead" wood started growing stems and right now (late rainy June 2023) there are heads growing all over the place!!!! I am so excited to take pics when they flower in top to bottom! I will cut the dead wood out like you showed. So glad I found your video! Oh the bushes are about 5' high/wide .

[@plantvibrations]

Wow I love hearing that!!

[@Marcel_Audubon]

I learned a lot from this. p.s. great haircut!

[@plantvibrations]

hehe thanks!

[@margaretchiodo-keller4495]

This video was informative and helpful. I use this method every year on my hydrangeas, and I always get alot of flowers the following year.

[@plantvibrations]

Wonderful! Glad to hear you do it the same!

[@Chercher4848]

Thanks for a very good description of how to prune hydrangeas. By actually cutting yours back I now get it. 👍

[@plantvibrations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aeastman59]

hey this was super helpful! You answered all the questions I have been worried about, thank you!

[@plantvibrations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@josephcirasella5211]

New to this channel. What a wealth of information you are providing. Thank you.

[@plantvibrations]

Thanks Joseph!!

[@KathyLeBleu]

Hi, thank you this is so helpful. I have pruned back hydrangea for the last two years and obviously I have done it incorrectly because it has not bloomed since. I’m in Northern California and I’ve always cut it back late fall and probably cut it back too far.

[@plantvibrations]

Hope you have blooms next season! Please let me know if you do

[@Annam321]

Great instructions. Best explanation I have seen. Thanks.

[@plantvibrations]

Happy to help!

[@annedaniels8558]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[@sammysworld5485]

Hi Devin. Your vids are super informative. I’m happy to know that PW has new varieties of hydrangeas that also bloom on old & new growths which alleviate losing blooms during late frost. The panicle are the best option bcz they are reliable bloomers & can be pruned anyway time.

[@plantvibrations]

I do love the panicles as well!

[@tw7998]

I am a first time owner of hydrangea macrophylla and really appreciate this clip! You say the pruning can be done at any time but for those of us less experienced is late summer the best time? Cheers.

[@plantvibrations]

Yes right now is good!

[@tw7998]

@@plantvibrations Thanks, and you have a new sub :)

[@Spirits2000]

Thank you so so much so helpful ✨🥰✨

[@plantvibrations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@batsontina22]

I have a hydrangea but it's in a shaded area. And we weren't sure what it was at the beginning, so it got chopped all the way down. It's growing back now. And now I want to make sure we care for it the best way. Any tips is so appreciated. Someone said it a "Hydrangea macrophylla, bigleaf hydrangea for the full binomial." I just copied and pasted what they said.

[@plantvibrations]

Check out this one Complete Growing Guide to Bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla: How to Plant & Care #hydrangea #gardening kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJqWiJSfabKkjqs

[@ChamilaEvans]

This is very specific and I finally learned how to prune big leaf hydrangea.. Inspected all of my flowering branches (old wood) and there are no other buds - I also inspected the new wood just in case. In this situation, do I simply cut down all branches to the height I want in July?

[@plantvibrations]

Yes that’s exactly correct!

[@sem1759]

Very informative video! I do however have one question; is the note right around 3:08 not a healthy set of buds, if so, why not? Thanks a lot in advance!

[@plantvibrations]

It is healthy but it’s faster to cut at a bud that already has growth starting

[@sem1759]

@@plantvibrations ah okay thanks!

[@wgsmith8589]

Hi Devin...I have 3 Endless Summer hydrangeas that I planted several years ago. I'm lucky to get maybe 4 or 5 blooms total over the summer. I've always been afraid to do any pruning for fear of losing what few blooms I do get. It's April 2023 and I'm wondering should I be pruning back all those dry stalks? I have never done that before...thanks. I've been really enjoying your channel!

[@plantvibrations]

Yes, you definitely want to remove all of the old dried out stem material. consider giving your Hydrangea some slow release fertilizer right now to help encourage more flowers this season.

[@StanHeier]

Thank you for the information. We have Hydrangea in a flower bed, and they grow up past our porch. In the winter i.e. November my husband cuts them back very low to keep them somewhat manageable during the summer months. This year the one side did not flower as much as it normally does. I also know there is a lot of dead branches which I will work on to remove. My questions is what time of year should we cut them back and how low can we go? I live in Southern NJ near the beach.

[@plantvibrations]

It is best to do the major pruning after they have finished flowering. You can cut it back by 50% without any problems. I'd rec doing it as soon as possible

[@UrduBachay]

Can these grow in areas that have severe winters? Any tips for winter protection

[@plantvibrations]

Most are hardy to zone 5! If you live beyond that I wouldn’t recommend

[@legohalo4493]

Thank you! I had no flowers on any of my big leaf hydrangeas this summer. They grew beautifully, nice and green but no flowers at all. So, now it is going to be winter and i would imagine the snow will come soon , but i should just let the shrub alone? It's still green and beautiful but won't it flop over when the heavy snows come?

[@plantvibrations]

It may be a good idea to prune it back now, just make sure you do so as I show, to the next healthy buds

[@Wendy-zl8kv]

😊 thanks

[@plantvibrations]

Hope it was helpful!

[@larawalker4737]

Hello Devin, I'm certainly happy that I've found your channel. You're very to the point and make things understandable. I just bought a "Firelight" (Leuchtfuer). It's potted in a 2.25 gal and considered a patio plant. Well, the blooms were drying out and had the most beautiful color. So, I've cut the 3 blooms off in order to dry and preserve them. I did cut above some of the new bud areas. This plant no longer has any blooms on it. Should I be worried? Did I just kill this plant? I'm a newbie to Hydrangeas... My question, if you want to use the blooms of a hydrangea as I just did, what is your advice for this?

[@plantvibrations]

Hi Lara! Put those flowers in a vase without any water and allow them to dry over the course of a couple weeks. You can spray with hairspray to preserve them. Since they bloom on new growth, if your season is long enough you may enjoy more flowers later In the season. Definitely did not kill it!

[@larawalker4737]

@@plantvibrations Your a wealth of knowledge!! Thank you Devin! Have a blessed day!

[@hot_diggity_dog5048]

Hi thank you for the video!! Im just a little confused if you could help. I just bought a hydrangeas in very early spring so the plant is still green and the flowers haven't bloom. Do I start pruning after the flower have finish blooming or right when they are blooming?😥

[@plantvibrations]

Don’t prune until after they’ve finished blooming!

[@naamangeist7843]

Thanks for the useful tips! Question: what's the name of that dark green, purple plant to your right (our left) at 6:30

[@plantvibrations]

Heuchera

[@plantvibrations]

CORAL BELLS (Heuchera spp.) - Where to Plant & How to Grow kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaTGqaOHadiXg6c

[@mikebaglini]

Great video. We purchased a new home with very mature big leaf hydrangeas and they have grown to be too large for the space since our April purchase. Today is late October in southern Virginia. When should I cut them back? Now or after them flower in the spring? Most leaves now have black spot on them. Should I leave the leaves on them or pull the spotty leaves off? I understand early spring is the time for fungicide treatment to prevent this. Thanks for your help.

[@plantvibrations]

I would cut back now to a healthy bud as I showed In the video. This will ensure flowers next year

[@LorraineLeBel]

Hi Devin, I am a new subscriber to your program!! I am enjoying your videos very much! My question is this, Is there any benefit to the Endless Summer Hydrangea at all to keep the blooms on all winter long? I have 11 beautiful hydrangea shrubs around my front porch. I am very particular about them. It's been a tough year as there has not been many blooms. Thank you so much!

[@plantvibrations]

Hi! We’re you able to provide a nice food for them in the spring? Either fertilizer or compost? The only benefit leaving them on is aesthetics. I leave them on over winter for that reason, but there’s not any benefit on the plant’s health if that’s what you’re asking

[@LorraineLeBel]

@@plantvibrations Hi Devin, Yes I fertilized in the Spring. They are very healthy looking. The landscaping company where they were purchased said that it was due to a below zero cold snap we had in February. Many in our area of Quincy, MA do not have any blooms. They are a little taller right now than I prefer but Im afraid to touch them. I don't want to ruin any chances for next years blooms. Your input is welcome!

[@plantvibrations]

@@LorraineLeBel if they're taller than you'd like them to be, now is the best time to trim them back. they'll still have a chance to regrow this season meaning you won't reduce potential flowers for next year

[@emmynguyen1693]

Hi, im a bit confused here. If i prune them in spring. I still can cut them back 1/3 to control the size of the tree? Thanks a lot😊

[@plantvibrations]

You want to do the heavier pruning such as that after they’ve finished blooming, so in the near future

[@debm9761]

My big leaf hydrangea came to me in a pot with all its blossoms at the bottom of the plant. I have transplanted it, and it has grown enormous! How do I get it to blossom on the top and not inside or on the ground? Help

[@plantvibrations]

It should be fine next season!

[@sdi2390]

Do you get rid of any of the stems that don't flower?

[@plantvibrations]

Only if you need to reduce the overall size of your plant

[@leytestrohm7199]

How to propagate Hydrangeas

[@plantvibrations]

Great suggestion

[@ceejaypa]

Hi, I pruned my big leaf hydrangea too far back this spring and had now flowers. Plants are HUGE. How far do I prune back this year so I get flowers next year?

[@plantvibrations]

You can prune them now by about 1/3 to 1/2 then it’ll have time to set buds this year. We want to avoid spring pruning

[@AnabelleExline-xi1bd]

I had beautiful blooms last summer and this summer nothing (august 2024) leaves are big and lush just no blooms! Any idea why?

[@plantvibrations]

Did you have a late spring frost?

[@canndell]

My hydrangea never blooms. Any suggestions ?

[@plantvibrations]

Is it planted too deeply?

[@canndell]

@@plantvibrations well, it’s almost 25 years old! But it hasn’t bloomed in about 7-8 years.

[@DHahn450]

Hi Devin, can I prune my big leaf hydrangea now, early october ? Thank you

[@plantvibrations]

Yes you can

[@stephenwilling7287]

Can you move an Hydrangea, if so how and when is the best time to do it? The plant was here when we got the house, we have been here ten years now. It is close, if not on the property line with our neighbor. He asked if it could be move as he doesn't want to hurt it when cutting his lawn. I'm not sure of the variety, it could be a snowball, as it has big white flowers that turn brown and look nice against the MN snow in winter. I know we probably should dead head it before winter sets in.

[@plantvibrations]

Hi Stephen, sounds like it could be a Hydrangea arborescens, great plant and definitely worth moving it to save it. My recommendation is around Mother's Days cut it back to about 12" stems all across the plant and dig it up at that time and replant it immediately. Keep it very well watered the first 6-8 weeks. You won't get blooms that summer but it'll recover well.

[@stephenwilling7287]

@@plantvibrations Thanks Devin, I'll definitely try this come spring. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[@myragooden8667]

Thanks for the info. I have a Mega Mindy hydrangea I purchased from QVC about 2or 3 seasons ago and it is about 3 feet wide and tall and the most flowers I have gotten is 3, what am I doing wrong?

[@plantvibrations]

Is it in sufficient sunlight? To get the best flowering they need really great sun exposure

[@myragooden8667]

It does get a little sun. Can I transfer it now and cut it back?

[@plantvibrations]

@@myragooden8667 yes now is a good time to do so

[@myragooden8667]

Thank you I will

[@rockfabulos]

Devin, my big leaf hydrangea was budding beautifully and then we had a frost, temps dropped more than reported, so all the living buds died, it is April 9, 2023 and I am not sure what to do at this point, help please. Also I just received 2 of your summer crush hydrangeas and I want them to stay pink but my ground soil is very acidic, so can I put this in pots that are 13” pots.Will this work with just regular potting soil and the bigger pots? Thank you so much Brenda

[@plantvibrations]

Hey Brenda, I’m sorry to hear about the buds. There isn’t much you can do about it unfortunately :( regarding the summer crush, yes your idea is perfect. 13” should be good for the first year, perhaps larger starting the third year

[@sammysworld5485]

Hi Brenda. I live in Zone 7b here in NY. On the mop-head hydrangeas that bloom on old wood. When there is a late frost, I cover them with my bedsheets to protect the buds. I just leave it on until the cold snap Passes. This usually does the trick.

[@marjetewyatt8257]

Can you help me? I bought what’s called hydrangea brestenburg because they’re most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I know nothing about flowers or gardening, I tried googling but I still didn’t get a clear answer how to care for it.

[@plantvibrations]

Hi Marjete, it is a big leaf hydrangea. Check out this video Complete Growing Guide to Bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla: How to Plant & Care #hydrangea #gardening kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJqWiJSfabKkjqs

[@sedruolsaveuc4632]

Hi Devin, I have a couple of Hydrangeas and their color is fading away, some the flowers have just dried out. Should I trim those which color is fading away or wait till the winter. Thanks

[@plantvibrations]

Yes cut those off if the cultivar you’re growing is a rebloom er. If not then may as well let them stay for interest

[@sedruolsaveuc4632]

@@plantvibrations , Hi Thank you for your response, so how to know these are re bloomers?

[@plantvibrations]

@@sedruolsaveuc4632 do you still have the tag or remember the variety name?

[@hannahfauchald9497]

Hi Devin, I have 7 2.5qt big leaf hydrangeas that I am going to be planting in the ground tomorrow. All of them have flowers fully bloomed on them and most have also stems with non blooms but varying sizes of vibrant green small bud clusters (as though they would bloom after another few weeks of growth or so). What kind of pruning should I be doing to get them ready for the fall / winter season? Anything? Some of my full blooms are fully vibrant and with solid color and some blooms are on their last days as they are a mix of light pink green brown. Should I be dead heading the older blooms and leaving the full flower blooms alone until they brown? Or leaving it all alone? Or cutting all the blooms off to save plant energy? I’m a little confused on what kind of pruning I should be doing for these plants after planting them. I watched your other video on planting one and you mentioned to cut off flowers to save energy for the plant to establish a healthy root system for the following year. What pruning if anything, should I be doing considering the time of year (I live near Seattle Washington) and they are about to be planted? Thank you!!!

[@plantvibrations]

Hi! I would recommend simply deadheading the spent blooms for now. May as well enjoy a little color while you still can!

[@hannahfauchald9497]

@@plantvibrations later in the fall, getting closer to winter, is it best to leave the spent blooms on the plant all winter? Or dead head them after they get spent as well?

[@plantvibrations]

it can add some nice winter interest. it is up to you

[@Mike_Genisys]

I just planted 4 limelights and man am I worried about pruning them.

[@plantvibrations]

Have you seen my video on pruning hydrangea paniculata?

[@Mike_Genisys]

@@plantvibrations I'll have to search for it Thanks!

[@Lollipopgirlvr]

Krep iy simple

[@SCOUSEOBIE]

👀👍

[@plantvibrations]

:)