Is it OK to cut back hydrangeas in the fall?

Author: Prof. Taylor Walsh  |  Last update: Thursday, October 5, 2023

Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood can be safely pruned in late fall once the plants have gone dormant or in early spring. Next year's flower buds won't be formed until late spring the same year they bloom, so there is no risk of removing the buds if you prune in fall or spring.

How far to cut back hydrangeas in the fall?

To reduce the size of a hydrangea that blooms on new wood, cut off about one-third of each stem in late fall or early spring before it begins to leaf out. If your hydrangea blooms on old wood, prune right after it has bloomed when the flowers are fading.

Can you cut hydrangeas down to the ground in the fall?

New Wood Bloomers

It is easy to grow these hydrangeas because they bloom every year regardless of how they are cared for or treated. They can be pruned to the ground in the fall and they will emerge in the spring with bountiful blooms.

Should I prune my hydrangeas in October?

But when to prune them? Prune fall blooming hydrangeas, or old wood bloomers, after they bloom in the summer. If you prune old wooded hydrangeas in fall, you are cutting off next seasons blooms. Summer blooming hydrangeas, or those that bloom on new wood, are pruned in the fall, after they stop blooming.

Can I cut back my hydrangeas in November?

While some plants bloom on new growth, others primarily set flower buds on old wood. Regardless, it is best to wait to prune all hydrangeas until spring. In the fall, hydrangeas (and all trees and shrubs) are in the process of going dormant. They do not produce very much new growth until the following spring.

✂ When to Prune Hydrangeas This Fall and Winter - SGD 251 ✂

How do you winterize hydrangeas in the fall?

To prepare hydrangeas for winter in colder areas, add a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plants to protect the crown and roots from freezing temperatures.

What month do you cut hydrangeas back?

Prune back stems to just above a fat bud — called a heading cut — in fall, late winter or spring. These plants have conical-shaped flower heads. I recommend leaving the dry, tan flower heads on the plant to provide some winter interest in your landscape, so I wait to prune these until late winter or spring.

How do you winterize hydrangeas?

Wrap with winter protection.

During the winter, make a DIY A-frame wire cage out of burlap and chicken wire to protect your hydrangea plant. This cage will protect it from winter winds, heavy snowfall, and cold temperatures.

What happens if you cut hydrangeas all the way down?

In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger blooms if pruned hard like this each year, but many gardeners opt for smaller blooms on sturdier stems.

Can you cut hydrangeas back too much?

A popular cultivar of the repeat bloomers is 'Endless Summer' but there are many newer repeat blooming cultivars available in the trade. Sometimes bigleaf hydrangeas become overgrown and need to be trimmed. However, too much pruning will greatly reduce or eliminate flowering.

How do I know if I should cut back my hydrangea?

So these shrubs should be pruned immediately after their flowers fade. Conversely, if the shrub flowers on new wood (stems developed during the current season), its buds are set within the season, so the shrub should be pruned in early spring before that new growth emerges.

What happens if I don't deadhead hydrangeas?

Without going through the deadheading process, hydrangeas will not produce as many flowers and the few produced may not grow as big to their full potential.

Should I cut off brown hydrangea blooms in fall?

However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place. This not only provides winter interest, but also ensures you don't remove the buds that will become flowers next spring.

What happens if you cut back hydrangeas too early?

The reason that climbing hydrangeas are pruned in summer is because the flowers are produced on the previous year's wood. If they are pruned earlier in spring, before flowering, the blooms for that year will be sacrificed.

What happens if you prune hydrangeas too late?

For example, when you might prune a 'Snowball' hydrangea differs from when you should cut back 'Endless Summer' hydrangea. If you prune them at the wrong time, you could risk cutting off all the flower buds and ending up with no blooms that year. Here's what you need to know about properly pruning your hydrangeas.

How far down do you deadhead hydrangeas?

The best time to deadhead is when the first set of blooms on your hydrangeas begin to turn brown and dry. Cut the stem below the flower head and just above the first set of leaves. For reblooming types, you can deadhead again when this second set begins to fade, but only through mid-August or so.

Do hydrangeas died back in the winter?

Generally, hardier hydrangeas such as the paniculata and arborescens types don't need extra winter protection. However, extreme cold can cause die-back of their branches. If a colder than normal winter in predicted, consider covering.

Which hydrangeas should not be cut back?

Endless Summer hydrangeas thrives with sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. You do not have to prune your Endless Summer Hydrangea since they bloom on both old and new growth but if you need to cut back, do so immediately after blooming. Remove only dead stems in the spring.

Where is the best place to cut hydrangeas?

Regardless of the type of hydrangeas you're growing—and whether it blooms on old or new wood—the cutting process is the same. Start by using clean, sharp shears, then make your cut. "Cut stems above a node, and include at least two leaf groups on the cut stem," says Godshalk.

Why are my hydrangeas not blooming this year?

The primary reasons hydrangeas don't bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer.

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