When is the right time?

Note the cutting category

Hydrangeas are divided into two pruning groups according to the time of pruning and the type of pruning. Hydrangeas of cut group 1 form the blossoms for the coming year from the previous year. These include:

• Farm hydrangea
• Plate hydrangea
• Climbing hydrangea
• Velvet hydrangea
• Oak leaf hydrangea
• Giant leaved hydrangea

The hydrangeas of cut group 2, on the other hand, bloom on annual wood. This cutting category only includes:

• Snowball hydrangea
• Panicle hydrangea.

When are hydrangeas of cut group 1 cut?

In order for these hydrangeas to develop as many flowers as possible, they should only be cut back very cautiously and carefully. The best time for this maintenance measure is spring, when no more frosts are to be expected. For spring pruning, do the following:

• First cut off the old inflorescences and the frozen shoot tips at the level of the first healthy bud.
• Cut out dead branches and, if not done in autumn, weak shoots.

Further pruning measures are only necessary for these hydrangeas if they take up too much space. Then you can prune back the hydrangea more strongly in spring. However, the hydrangea will have little or no flowers this year as most of the buds will be pruned. You should refrain from pruning these species in autumn.

Cut back hydrangeas from cut group 2

These hydrangea species are a little easier to care for because their budding behavior is similar to that of many garden perennials. Since these hydrangea species bloom on annual wood, they can easily cope with a more severe pruning in spring.

A second Cut after flowering in autumn. Then shorten all of the shoots except for one pair of eyes to encourage the branching growth of the plant. The annual wood is shortened by about a third. Also, light the hydrangea so that enough light can penetrate inside. This also promotes the formation of new flowers.

Hydrangeas of cut group 2 will bald and will sprout fewer and fewer flowers if they are not cut back. However, you don't necessarily have to prune these hydrangeas either. Uncut, the hydrangeas of cutting group 2 grow into mighty shrubs that have hardly any leaves in the middle but countless flowers and leaves in the outer area. This can be very appealing.