How to prune hydrangea

H. macrophylla: immediately after flowering in summer. H. paniculata / H. arborescens: early spring before growth begins. For H. macrophylla: cut spent flower stems back to the first pair of healthy buds below the old bloom; do not remove more than one-third of the plant. For H. paniculata/arborescens: cut all stems back to 30–60 cm or to 2–3 buds from the base for a compact plant.

Annually after flowering (macrophylla) or annually in early spring (paniculata/arborescens). Pruning depends entirely on the species. Bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla) and oakleaf types bloom on old wood — prune only immediately after flowering, never in autumn or spring. Panicle (H. paniculata) and smooth (H. arborescens) types bloom on new wood and can be cut back hard in early spring. Wrong timing eliminates the whole year's flowers.

For H. macrophylla: cut spent flower stems back to the first pair of healthy buds below the old bloom; do not remove more than one-third of the plant. For H. paniculata/arborescens: cut all stems back to 30–60 cm or to 2–3 buds from the base for a compact plant.