Fall Hydrangea Pruning Guide / Should You Prune Hydrangeas In The Fall?

A common question many gardeners ask in the fall is whether they should prune their hydrangeas now or wait until spring. The answer can vary depending on who you ask and what type of hydrangea you're growing. With our research and years of experience, we're here to take the guesswork out of fall pruning. Hello fellow gardeners, I'm Amy from Gardening Know-How and today we're talking all about hydrangeas. Contrary to popular belief, hydrangeas don't require much pruning and cutting them back too much can actually reduce their blooming potential. Some types bloom on old wood which means they had formed their flower buds the prior season and some species grow on new wood only which means they form their flower buds on the current season's growth. These types are quite suitable for colder climates where there is no chance of the flower buds being harmed over the winter as they simply do not exist yet. Some newer introductions combine both traits which bloom on both old wood and new wood. So basically if you have cut back a stem in the fall that contains the flower buds for the next season, you have just sacrificed next year's flowers. This is why it is so important to identify what type of hydrangea you have before you reach for those pruners. No matter what time of year, you can always keep your plant neat and tidy by removing any dead, damaged, or crossing stems. So let's get into the four main types of hydrangeas and we will start with the easiest. Panicle hydrangeas, sometimes referred to as PG hydrangeas, are hydrangea paniculata varieties that bloom on new wood only. This group can technically be pruned in fall or very early spring. However, we highly recommend waiting until the spring. As you can see here, in mid-October, there are no buds present for the next season as they won't be produced until the next spring. Plus, the dried flower heads create really nice winter interest. Tree hydrangeas, which are grafted panicle hydrangeas, would follow the same rules. These plants could also be pruned in late fall after the plant has gone dormant if you prefer a tidier look to the landscape. Here are a few key characteristics to help you properly identify, prune, and care for panicle hydrangeas. Now for the second group, hydrangea arborescens, commonly referred to as the smooth hydrangea or Annabelle types, as the variety Annabelle is one of the classics. Now, just like the panicle group, this particular species is very easy to care for and yet again, we suggest pruning early in the spring and not the fall as this group also blooms on new wood only. As you can see here, there are no buds present for next season as they are not produced until the next spring. The oak leaf types, known as hydrangea quercifolia, has, as the name suggests, leaves that resemble oak tree leaves. Oak leaf types bloom on old wood, which means they need to be pruned right as the flowers fade and no later. You can prune this hydrangea at that time to control its overall size. However, it is never necessary to prune this type of hydrangea. As you can see here, the buds are intact and ready for next year as of mid-October. Finishing off is the mophead series or hydrangea macrophylla. They are also referred to as big leaf types or lace caps. Members of hydrangea serrata also fall under this category. This is by far the most difficult species of hydrangea to give advice for. All hydrangeas in this group bloom on old wood, but some of the newer introductions bloom on both old wood and new wood. These new introductions are very valuable as many homeowners in colder climates would often lose all of their overwintered buds to a late spring frost or freeze. As you can see here, the plant has already produced buds for the next season as of mid-October. Since most varieties bloom on old wood, you should only prune just after the plumes are starting to fade. However, we recommend to avoid pruning this type of hydrangea except to remove any completely dead branches in the spring once the plant starts to leaf out. You will notice the difference between a viable branch and one that will no longer be used by the plant. The branches that can and should be removed will be very woody, possibly hollow-stemmed, and lighter in color. So instead of frequent or drastic pruning, focus on light maintenance for this group such as removing dead or damaged wood and shaping the plant as needed. Thank you for joining me. I hope this video helped clear up any confusion and gave you the confidence to care for your plants properly. Remember, knowing your hydrangea type is key to deciding when and how to prune. Until next time, happy gardening!