The Easy Guide to Pruning Hydrangeas

When and how to prune your hydrangeas, with easy ways to shape your hydrangea and tips on what kind of pruning your hydrangea needs.
00:00 Welcome
00:43 When to prune your hydrangeas
02:15 Video: Everything you need to know about growing hydrangeas: • Hydrangeas - everythin...
02:32 The simplest way of pruning hydrangeas - it works for almost all hydrangeas
03:07 Posy Gentles' garden design: www.posygentles.co.uk/
03:17 Why different hydrangeas should be pruned differently
03:25 How to tell the difference between new wood and old wood in hydrangeas
03:40 The three different ways to prune hydrangeas
03:47 How to prune hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangeas)
04:12 How to prune Hydrangea paniculata and smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens, including 'Annabelle' and 'Incrediball')
04:50 How to prune mophead and lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
05:35 Pruning a lacecap or mophead hydrangea to improve the shape and flowering
09:35 Fertilising hydrangeas
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[@anitahadley2871]

Hydrangeas will never go out of fashion for me. The more the merrier! Lace caps are the only type I’m missing in my garden.

[@janereel1903]

Excellent video to explain hydrangeas. I've followed for a year and have often reviewed your other hydrangea videos. Also thanks for the advice on fertilizing them. I like this backdrop.You look cozy.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@janethothersall8345]

I love hydrangeas…I have planted over the years at least 50 plus in my garden all varieties…simply beautiful, I planted them as I was fed up of my soggy borders and losing so many beautiful perennials, the cost was Also very painful…I now stick with what I know my soil is comparable with…happy gardening everyone!

[@MyFocusVaries]

I love all hydrangeas. And there are so many new smaller varieties coming out that fit my small-sized garden! I've been nervous to prune my macrophyllas, and this has been very helpful. Thanks!

[@LittleJordanFarm]

Thank you stay well

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Always.helpful. My Annabelle is still a baby, but I look forward to it being big enough to prune.

[@silversilk19]

Same here

[@beckyscheller9358]

Love all hydrangeas. I try to add more every year. Have one called Bobo. A small one by proven winners that get better every year. I always cut the blooms for the house and this year used them in My Christmas tree along with other dried flowers.

[@marshallhosel1247]

Thank you! This was helpful.

[@frankscales7295]

Outstanding site. ty

[@Lulu-ue2lj]

Super video. Thanks for the great info. Now I must get outside! Thank you

[@p.h.c.1113]

Great advice since I am new to hydrangeas. So far I only have one paniculata type, looking forward to seeing it grow. I plan on adding some lace cap Invincibelles to my backyard soon.

[@donaldauguston9740]

I agree with Dark. Hydrangeas are always in style. I especially like the Lacey looking blue flowers. So elegant. Take care and thank you for this post. DA

[@tarawells1553]

Thank you for your advice. My great nanna grew a vast array of hydrangeas and I’ve started to grow my own but needed advice.

[@gailbinot839]

Love to hear more about Frances Moskovitz and her garden. I followed some of her tips from last year. It was my best flower garden ever!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'll tell her, she'll be so glad to hear that.

[@tadvanness342]

Most helpful video on this subject I have ever seen! Thank-you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@shirleyharburn3672]

Excellent video! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience. Looking forward to getting into my garden again this spring. I have lots of hydrangeas!

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good morning Alexandra, there has been so much discussions re the pruning of hydrangeas this season, I have certainly learned much. I did make the mistake last year by cutting away too much, we do this just one season and you remember forever :) when I was young (!) a lady had two deep blue plants growing in the front of her garden, those days it was very fashionable to also grow palm trees, the front garden was quite compact, but those hydrangeas were the most admired but she never picked any for the vase! As I was a working young person, I never knew when she pruned, I think she cut away about one third of both plants. Pruning has become very important and I think that's why gardeners have become weary on how much. I must say the hydrangeas grew like crazy, so this season I shall take great care. We normally prune in early spring, then you can distinguish the new growth on the plant much better. They are so rewarding and a pleasure to have. Thank you for the informative chat and sharing. Have a lovely day, take care. Kind regards.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you and take care yourself!

[@flowerpixel]

Very educational as always. I love seeing footage of the different hydrangea varieties. Also agree in winters they're gorgeous!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Suninitib]

Thank you. I usually just cut them right down but will try your method this year. 🥰

[@notfadedyet]

Thank you this was very helpful 🙏🏻🥰💐

[@suetulloch2138]

Thank you Alexandra. I always put off pruning hydrangeas as it takes ages but I shall make more of an effort to get it done before March this year.

[@Lou-Owen]

Very helpful thank you. I have hydrangreas in pots and they are lovely every year. This pruning information was very useful.

[@eaulaosolidaritea363]

Useful and very easy tips. As always, you simplify and explain well - and we find we can do it! Thank you.

[@yvonnehall544]

Thanks for info ...How many times can i say you are the best..love the sculptured idea..

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@marcusseidel6824]

Thank you for this fab Video. Last autumn I could buy a lot of hydrangea panniculata from a flowershop. They couldnt be sold anymore , I ve planted them around trees in my neighborhood. They are already pruned. I took out cross over stems and kept them shorter to encourage new growth and root growth...I hope they will establish and become vigorous shrubs. Will fertilize with slow releasing fertilizer. Kind regards from Belgium. Marcus

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope they do well!

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

Thank you for the tips. I have a lace cap that needs reducing. I love it as grew it from a cutting an elderly neighbour gave me.

[@janpapworth7956]

Thank you. Useful to remind myself what I’m trying to achieve when I tackle the beast. Your timing is excellent too!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you

[@04nbod]

Up North I prune at the end of March. Just to avoid damage. I cut the old heads off just above the new growth. Leaving it a little later means I know where the new stems will come in so I don't lose the year's flowers

[@mattavalon]

This is just the video that we gardeners need to remind us the pruning methods on hydrangeas. Thanks very much

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@pamelacorsi]

This is the best information about pruning Hydrangeas! I love them all but Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are my favorite.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Mine too!

[@tmy1065]

Thank you for this informative video. I’ve planted several types of hydrangeas in the past couple years so this is a good review for me on how to prune each kind. I’m always excited to get out there in my garden after watching!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@flowerdiary9689]

So elegant garden. Love hydrangeas. New leaves are beginning to sprout in my garden,and I pray that the flowers will bloom. I learned a lot from what you said. Thanks.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you

[@barbiemiller9359]

Hydrangeas are a favorite among so many of my customers where I work. They're a plant I was not as familiar with when I started working there, and I'm always seeking more knowledge about these beautiful garden showpieces. This video was very helpful and I know that I can now confidently give some pruning advice.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@maymon207]

Thank you for your easy tips and encouraging new gardeners not get down by unsuccessful plants. You are my first gardening mentor.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@laurasuitter2442]

Hydrangeas are quite popular here in the US. Really like the Oakleaf hydrangeas which do very well here in the Southeast where they’re native. Paniculatas are also a favorite. For the mopheads, I go for rebloomers which give you more blooms for your dollars! Great video!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you"

[@feeonaghchambers7403]

Thank you for this. I love hydrangeas and they manage to grow even in my light- deprived, north -facing garden but I am terrified of pruning - anything- so this is a big help!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@theheritagehousesc]

Great video. I love my hydrangeas and have so many of them except climbing. So easy to propagate and there is no other flower that would successfully compete with them in flower power. Just stunning when they bloom! Now if i could find a way to keep the deer away from them I’de be the happiest woman alive! 😂

[@smoothsailingmp]

Nice that you mentuin Laura from Garden Answer. I love it when you all share info...it helps everyone. Have a nice day!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

She has a really interesting channel!

[@janetlee473]

Very helpful. I would, however, have liked to see the finished product the pruning.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good point, thank you.

[@irairod5160]

I think all forms of hydrangea are beautiful and don't care if they are trendy or not. I only have Oakleaf because I want my garden to have mostly natives, and although that one is a bit out of its natural distribution in my home, it's close enough and it's not an aggressive competitor of any plant in my area, so I've made room for it. My neighbors on either side have non-native types, so I get to enjoy theirs without compromising the goals for my garden. (I'm happy to see you back, I hope the winds have calmed down!)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, yes, it's quite sunny and calm now.

[@cambbrown6205]

Thank you for this. I have three Paniculata Hydrangeas, in a sunny border, that I bought from Signature Hydrangeas, called Polar Bear. I was told these would be more tolerant of the sun. I also several Annabelles. I love the white flowers as they go with anything. I am going to wait a while as I can't yet see nice fat buds on any of them yet.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds like a great collection of hydrangeas

[@tanyastephens3187]

Thanks for this. I only have one rather sad hydrangea but this video may indeed change that! I do have a "wow" plant which is a huge clump of Crinum powellii...or Elephant Lilies....I have had them for over 20 years...the friend who gave them to me has never had more than three flowers! we have over 25 or 30...we also have a snake ( European whip snake ) that seems to like spending time down at the bottom amongst the bulbs...

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Crinum is an amazing plant, I have some too, also given by a friend.

[@DeborahChapin]

In my previous home I had a beautiful hydrangea it really made the front of the house look nice. Very easy plant. However I haven't had so much success here in Maine because of the wildlife. The voles ate it up when I transferred my little cutting in to place. so what I did was I took cuttings of a dogwood tree and I'm going to try again pairing a hydrangea with it I saw some hydrangea and Montauk daisies in the fall and I thought that might be a better season for hydrangea around here. I will let you know if it works.

[@emmalavenham]

Mountain hydrangeas can bring sensational color during the growing season, like Mountain Mania emerging light orange, fading to yellow/chartreuse. The bigleaf H Miss Saori is one of our go-tos to bring in a bit of purple/black foliage. And for all season interest, we particularly like the oakleaf hydrangea Snowflake, with large inflorescences that last through the early spring.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I love Miss Saori too, she has performed year after year in my garden with very little attention.

[@RoseMary-vs3io]

👌👌

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

Timely topic. I need to prune the old flowers off my neighbor’s mop head hydrangea I can see new buds starting. (I have her permission to do yard work.) I think I’ll give it some coffee grounds as well. Heavy bloomers need encouragement.

[@titiasplantedaquariums]

This video comes right on time. I spoke to my best friend last week, she and her boyfriend have a 4 bedroom house with two small gardens. She told that her boyfriend wants to clear the front garden this spring. I know that they have a massive big lacecap Hydrangea there and I asked if I could adopt the hydrangea with clumb for in my garden. And possible some other plants to.I don't think it has seen much pruning in it's life at all, so I told that it needed a trim before I can transfer it by car. Your video will help me what to look for in a matured hydrangea of that size. I will need a long shovel to properly dig it up. I don't know it's permanent placement in the back garden yet, I will tackle that together with finalizing my cottage garden design and planting next year. I think it's best to remove a few extra tiles, dig away the sand until I reach the clay soil and fill up with compost. How can I care for the hydrangea the best, knowing that it will be in that particular spot for 1 year?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Keep it well watered, and it may be a good idea to include some general all purpose fertiliser. Not all plants are happy to be moved when they're mature, but it's worth a try.

[@titiasplantedaquariums]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden thanks. I also thought of putting the hydrangea in a mortar tub with some drainage holes. Of course with some compost around the clumb. I will have to see what option is best when the hydrangea is out of the soil.

[@paulinewqi]

Love this video.....one of my favourite flowers...HYDRANGEAS.....the varieties are ...

[@paulinewqi]

Thanks very much for sharing....💝💐

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@MyMiaTom]

Amazing informative video! Thank you very much! I have just planted 5 in my garden, and rely hope they'll do well, specially now after i have seen this video. I also have a beutyberry that i love, and hoping if you could give my some advice on caring of it ...

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! I'm really sorry, but I've never grown Beauty berry, although it is stunning to look at. So I don't have any advice..

[@lorimiller623]

They're not unfashionable in America! I see a lot of panicle hydrangeas around here (Indianapolis) where it's sunny with alkaline soil; lots of blue macrophylla hydrangeas around Cleveland where it's cloudier and azaleas grow well.

[@maurakennedy5952]

Ann in comments that's to bad that you lost your 2 plants I have one in pot for 14 years it gets better every year had to cut out a lot it got so big did you keep watering them that's a much loved the video thanks

[@laurenb6451]

My neighbor has a macrophylla that had 2 blooms last year because her husband cannot control the urge to cut it to ground level every year. I had told her why and she prevented him from cutting it two years ago but he went back and did it again this fall. She was VERY angry. Hydrangeas here in USA are all the rage for quite a few years. In Cape Cod I hear they have a giant hydrangea festival each summer.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think they have those stunning blue ones in Cape Cod. Perhaps your neighbour should swap her macrophylla for an arborescens as they don't mind being cut to the ground! It would probably be easier than swapping the husband...

[@myraduffy9278]

Hi Alexandra, such a timely and useful video… Normally, I just ‘guess’ how to prune my various Hydrangeas and have not been at all pleased with the flowering as a result. So - watch this space! Also, you mentioned that giving Hydrangeas the same kind of ‘Slow release Rose food pellets’ as Roses was your way of feeding them. Please could you tell me where you purchase this special ‘slow release’ rose food’ - and does it come in large quantities? I would be interested to know the percentage of the main ‘ingredients’ too and if this is one of the better options for both Hydrangeas and Roses - in your opinion???

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm trying this for the first time this year, so I can't give an expert opinion, but I would suggest using any slow release rose feed from a brand you know (I've bought the David Austin Rose Feed this year) and adding the same amount of fertiliser as you would if it were a rose.

[@carolinepark4033]

Thank you! I love the rose fertiliser tip! I’d love to add an Annabelle to my white garden ; I live in a frost pocket valley in Cornwall - will it work?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The Annabelles have survived some quite heavy snow in my garden, not that it snows often, but we've had a couple of harsh winters. I'm in South East England, so Cornwall should be OK.

[@kevinjamesparr552]

Vanilla Friezi hedges in Alee 120 yards each side

[@KatherineVillanuevaM]

Thank you for this video. I am a completely beginner who is trying to take care of the garden in our newly bought house. Can you please clarify what exactly do you mean with "don't take away more than one stem in three"?

[@clairemcconway6266]

it means don't remove more than a third of the stems

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

Don’t remove more than 1/3rd the total mass of the plant.

[@KatherineVillanuevaM]

@@botanicaltreasures2408 thank you!

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

@@KatherineVillanuevaM You’re welcome. 🌿

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Everyone's right! I should have said not to remove more than a third of stems

[@annashiegl]

Good advice as always. Do hydrangeas do well in pots? I purchased 2 of those runaway bride hydrangeas, and had them in containers. They had both died by the following year. Very disappointed 😥

[@marilynmcgillick2931]

I planted one in a container last year and am over-wintering it in my shed. Hoping it comes back. We'll see!

[@paulinecrispin121]

I have a couple of hydrangeas in pots. Mainly because the house that I live in comes with my job, so one day I will have to leave things that are planted in the garden. The hydrangeas in pots are still OK after a couple of years. Need to be kept damp and feed.

[@MyFocusVaries]

There are many factors in whether a plant does well in a container. It will need more careful watering in the summer, and after a season it will have used all the nutrients in the potting soil, so will need fertilizer to thrive. And in the winter, it will need protection depending on your zone and the plant's zone range. For example if the plant is hardy to zone 3 in the ground, it "loses" 2 zones of hardiness in a container. Meaning that in a container, it's now only hardy to zone 5, so will need protection in the winter.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree with all the commenters. I've found hydrangeas do well in pots but you need to fertilise them and keep them well watered. And they are more exposed to the cold, although if you can pull them in next to a house wall that will sometimes help.

[@louiseaa7609]

I cut mine early november. All the way down and they flower like crazy every year. Guess no one told them when the right time is😊

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

They're probably paniculatas and arborescens, and I agree, I think there's much more flexibility sometimes than you'd think, quite a lot of gardening can be done when it suits you (though occasionally that really doesn't work)

[@xandria-themelanatedphoeni2476]

Hydrangeas are fallen out of favor? Ha! I’m currently scouring discount racks for them. ☺️

[@LauraStepney]

I was solidly in the "hydrangeas are out of style" camp until my mom convinced me to put one in my garden. Now I've totally fallen in love with them. Thanks for all the fantastic tips in this video, it's very helpful.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DS-qg6ox]

Helpful but would have found even more helpful with closer pictures of exactly what was being done on Each type of hydrangea. I have several different hydrangeas and a few of mine haven't flowered well even though I thought I was pruning correctly

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you for commenting

[@kevinjamesparr552]

No real gardener will prune Hydrangeas before ist May .I do it mid month here in North Europe .Mind you May was always in UK in my other house in Windermere

[@joadia2003]

People never zoom in to show how they're really pruning so it's hard to see from a distance.....