Q: I have several hydrangeas in my yard. When is the best time to prune them?
A: I am glad you asked as this is National Hydrangea Week. There are several species of hydrangeas, and it does make a difference as to when you prune them. Woody plants have old and new wood. New wood is this season’s new growth. The branch will have leaves on it. If the plant loses its leaves over the winter, in the spring all of those leafless branches are old wood.
Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), climbing hydrangea (H. anomala petiolaris), and oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) bloom in early summer on old wood. They set next year’s flower buds on the current wood soon after blooming, so pruning is best done right after blooming. If pruned in the fall, winter or spring, some or all of the flower buds will be cut off. They can be maintained with a renewal pruning. The oakleaf hydrangea can be pruned to the shape of a small tree….