Pruning Guide for Hydrangea

It is possible to cut any hydrangea flower head, without the stem, at any time during its bloom without harming the plant. However if you want to harvest the bloom with a long stem there are some important pruning guidelines to follow.

Types of Hydrangeas
There are three types of hydrangeas, each with their own growth habits. Therefore the pruning requirements will change depending on the variety of Hydrangea you are pruning. The three types are, those with flower buds formed in the fall, those with flower buds formed in the spring, and those that form buds in both fall and spring.

Type: I
All classic macrophylla hydrangeas form next year's flower buds the previous summer just as the flowers turn brown, usually in early August. So, you can cut them in color for vase use, any time during their color, without impacting next year's blooming. If you would like to dry your blooms harvest the flowers at peak bloom and allow them to dry off the shrub. If you were to allow the blooms to turn brown and to dry on the shrub before harvesting them with their stems in the fall, you are almost surely removing next years’ flower buds.

Type: II
Hydrangeas that form their buds in the spring include the oakleafs, the arborescens (such as Annabelle) and all the paniculatas (the most popular is commonly called PEE GEE). These can be cut with as much stem as you desire, throughout the summer and fall. However, most horticulturists agree that pruning in early spring just before the new foliage emerges is best.

Type: III
For the new re-blooming hydrangeas, such as the new repeat blooming series, form their buds in early summer. Since they will continue to re-bloom, you can harvest blooms, with as much stem as you desire, through early August. By doing this you will actually enhance blooming later in the season as well as next years bloom. Cutting flower stems after that will decrease next year's initial bloom.