Hydrangeas are the rockstars of summer gardens, but with uncontrolled growth, these perennials can become unruly. Knowing when to prune hydrangeas is important if you wish to maximize your blooms each season.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for when to prune this summer shrub. However, if you know what type of hydrangea you are growing, you are halfway there!

Continue reading to learn about the main types of hydrangeas and discover when it is time to give your plant a haircut.

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Old wood vs new wood hydrangeas

A key factor in deciding when to trim hydrangeas is whether they bloom on old wood or new wood.

“Old wood” refers to the previous year’s growth on a hydrangea shrub, while “new wood” refers to the current year’s growth. Old wood has a greyish color, and new wood is much more greenish.

Old wood is also somewhat brittle, while new wood is softer and more pliable.

What happens if you prune old-wood hydrangeas too late?

If you prune old-wood hydrangeas in late fall, winter, or early spring, you will remove their flower buds, leaving you with a plant that won’t give you many blooms this year. Instead, prune this type in early fall after the flowers have faded.

Pruning old wood hydrangeas in fall gives them plenty of time to develop wood that will be “old” when the next season’s flower buds emerge.

With new wood hydrangeas, you have more flexibility since they form flower buds in spring on this year’s growth. You can prune this type in late fall or early winter, once the plant is dormant, or wait till early spring when the new growth starts.

Hydrangea types and when to prune them

Some types of hydrangeas form their flower buds on old wood, and some form them on new wood. And, to make things even more confusing, Endless Summer Hydrangea, the variety I grow, forms flower buds on both old and new wood!

Since pruning time depends on which type of wood your blooms grow on, it can be difficult to decide when the best time to prune hydrangeas is.

A common question that I get from readers is “Should hydrangeas be pruned in fall?” Now that we know there is a reason for pruning in both fall and spring (it’s all about the blooms!), let’s examine the specific types of hydrangeas and learn the best times to prune them.

When to prune bigleaf hydrangeas

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) have large, showy flowers and lush foliage with dark, glossy leaves. Their flowers are described as mopheads or lacecaps.

This type of hydrangea loses its leaves in winter and regrows in spring.
Pruning time for bigleaf hydrangeas is critical to ensure the maximum number of flowers.
They bloom on old wood.
When to prune them: Bigleaf hydrangeas should be pruned in early fall after the flowers have faded.

When to trim smooth hydrangeas

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is also called wild hydrangea. This type of hydrangea has large, rounded clusters of flowers called corymbs.

They usually have creamy white blooms and large, oval leaves with serrated edges. Bloom time is spring and early summer.

Smooth hydrangea blooms on new growth.
This gives some flexibility with pruning time.
When to prune them: Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to encourage vigorous flowering.

When to prune mountain hydrangeas

Mountain hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) produce flattened flower clusters called corymbs or panicles. The flower color ranges from pink and blue to white.

Leaves of mountain hydrangeas have serrated edges. This type of hydrangea has a compact growth habit suited to smaller gardens.

Hydrangea serrata blooms in late spring through early summer on both old and new wood.
Deadheading faded flowers will keep the plant tidy.
This means that little pruning is necessary.
When to prune them: If you decide to prune, you can do it after flowering in the fall or when growth appears in early spring.

When to trim oakleaf hydrangeas

As the name would suggest, oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) have deeply-lobed leaves that look like those of oak trees.

Their flowers, which bloom in late spring to early summer, are cone-shaped and are originally cream or green in color, and then gradually become pink, rose, or even deep purple, depending on the cultivar.

Oakleaf hydrangea produces stunning cone-shaped clusters of flowers that emerge in late spring to early summer.
They are generally low-maintenance once established in your garden.
This type of hydrangea flowers on old wood.
When to prune them: Pruning should be done immediately after flowering to avoid removing next year’s flower buds.

When to prune panicle hydrangea

Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) produces large, showy cone-shaped flowers called panicles. These panicles can range in size from 6 to 18 inches long. The flowers start creamy white, and as they mature, they gradually transition to shades of pink, red, or even bronze, depending on the variety grown.

Unlike some other hydrangea species, the color of panicle hydrangea flowers is not influenced by soil pH.

Panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood (this season’s growth)
This makes them less susceptible to winter damage and ensures that flowering is dependable.
Bloom time is typically from mid-summer to early fall, which is longer than other species of hydrangeas.
When to prune them: Prune panicle hydrangeas in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.

When to trim climbing hydrangeas

Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) is a deciduous woody vine that can climb and cover walls, fences, and arbors. It has large, flattened clusters of creamy white flowers called corymbs.

The flowers can reach up to 10 inches in diameter and the blooms are very fragrant and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Climbing hydrangea flowers emerge in late spring to early summer.
This type of hydrangea blooms on old wood.
When to prune them: Trim climbing hydrangeas after flowering finishes, before new buds form.

When to prune reblooming hydrangeas

Some types of hydrangeas are rebloomers. This means they can produce flowers on both old and new wood throughout the growing season.

These include certain varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla (e.g., Endless Summer), Hydrangea serrata, and Hydrangea arborescens (e.g., Invincibelle series). Since they can bloom on both types of wood, the best time to prune them often depends on your desired pruning goals.

Light pruning can be done any time to tidy up your shrub.
To encourage continuous blooming throughout the growing season, you can deadhead spent flowers regularly as they fade.
When to prune them: For more significant pruning to control the plant’s size, late winter to early spring, before new growth begins, is the best time to tackle this job.

Note: Since reblooming hydrangeas may produce flowers on both old and new wood, it’s best to avoid heavy pruning (renewal pruning) in late summer or fall, as this could potentially remove next year’s flower buds.

When to prune hydrangeas printable

You can print the hydrangea pruning printable as high-resolution JPGs or PDFs by using the links below:

Printing instructions:

Select portrait orientation and “fit to page” on your printer settings for a full-page printout.
You can also print out the tips for when to prune hydrangeas by type from the>project card at the bottom of this page. Scroll down to the card and press “print”.

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Admin note: This article about when to trim hydrangeas first appeared on the blog in March 2024. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable, and a slideshow video.

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When To Prune Back Hydrangeas by Type - Printable

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Hydrangeas have showy blooms and are garden stars, but they can get untidy if not pruned. But when do you do this job?

It depends on how your hydrangeas set blooms - on old wood or new wood (this year's growth.)

If you prune at the wrong time, you will sacrifice your flowers.

Print out the list and keep it for reference in your garden journal.

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $1

Materials

Computer paper

Tools

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Instructions

Load your paper into your printer.
Using the print function on this card will give you a printable about when to prune hydrangeas that fills about ¾ of an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper.
Choose portrait layout and, if possible, "fit to page" (or 125%) in your settings.
Prefer full-page printing? You can also print the guide as a high-resolution file using your browser’s print feature: (PDF) | (JPG).
Please note that creating free printables can be a time-consuming process. This hydrangea pruning time guide is for personal use only. If you are sharing it (and thank you for that!), please link directly to this post, rather than to the actual image. We appreciate your help in supporting the site.
This guide to hydrangea pruning may not be used for any retail purpose or for mass distribution.

Notes

Printable showing when to prune hydrangeas by type of wood.

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When to Prune Hydrangeas (by Type) For the Best Flowers

Old wood vs new wood hydrangeas

What happens if you prune old-wood hydrangeas too late?