Prune hydrangeas like this after they finish blooming, and the next round of flowers will all be big blooms

Xiao Qi

Step-by-step flower growing guide

How should you prune hydrangeas after the spent flowers fade?

First, we need to understand the flowering pattern of hydrangeas. Hydrangeas do not bloom on the new shoots of the current year. They must wait until the second year before they can bloom. That is, only the aged branches bloom. Their flowers open at the top of the aged branches. Therefore, you absolutely must not prune the branches in spring. If you prune the branches, it will affect their blooming and cause them not to bloom.

The principle of pruning hydrangeas is that after they finish blooming, if the branches are too long, shorten them. This is because if overly long branches bloom, their flowers open at the top, and the newly grown flower branches will keep growing longer. The flower balls bloom large and can easily bend or break the branches. You must shorten them.

Another point is to base it on its overall shape. If your overall shape looks good, when pruning, you only need to cut off the first or second node below the spent flowers. Its ability to produce side buds is very strong. However many branches you keep, if there are sufficient nutrients, then by the time the second spring arrives, many flower buds will grow on its aged branches and bloom directly.

When pruning, the new branches that grew in spring and did not bloom must absolutely not be cut off. Once these branches age, they will bloom the following year. If you cut them off, it will be detrimental to it blooming again, and this branch will be wasted.

Therefore, the principle of pruning is: if the shape looks good, when pruning, simply cut off about two nodes directly below the flower ball at the top. Do not prune the new branches. It does not grow in summer; that is the process of promoting flower bud formation. The period of September and October is when its flower buds are completely formed. Therefore, prune only once after it finishes blooming. If the branches are too long, after shortening them, the other branches can be used for cuttings. They root very easily.

Hydrangeas are generally pruned after they finish blooming. Pruning in other seasons is not recommended. It will affect their blooming. Spring is their blooming season, so you cannot prune. Autumn and summer are not growing seasons. They are the stage when the plant is forming buds and differentiating flower buds, so you cannot prune them either. If your hydrangea does not bloom, either you pruned it in spring, or what you bought was a small seedling from the current year. Wait until the second year when the branches age, and it will naturally bloom.

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