Illustration of pruning methods for hydrangeas (how to prune hydrangea branches if they are too long)

Hydrangea pruning position diagram 1

When is the right time to prune hydrangeas?

Except for cuttings and seedlings that have just been cut and have relatively weak branches, the branches do not need to be pruned. For example, after the flowers of the Endless Summer Hydrangea have bloomed, the remaining flowers should be cut off in time to avoid nutrient consumption .

At the same time, every autumn and winter, you should prune off some dead branches and old branches that have no flowering ability. Start from the bottom, because the flowering branches of hydrangeas all sprout from the bottom.

If these dead and old branches continue to occupy the position, the bottom of the hydrangea will be empty, making it difficult for flower buds to sprout , so they should be pruned in time.

Before and during the flowering period, it is not recommended to prune all types of hydrangeas except for seedlings. If you prune them at this time, you will not be able to enjoy the beautiful hydrangeas because the flower buds will also be cut off.

Hydrangea pruning position diagram 2

How to prune hydrangea seedlings

If the seedling is still very small or it is a newly purchased potted hydrangea, our goal is to strengthen it, make its branches stronger, and its root system more developed, so that it can bloom more and more flowers in the later stage.

Therefore, when the hydrangea seedlings are young or newly planted, if they have flower buds, cut them off in time. After cutting them off, you can concentrate on raising the seedlings .

Pruning can be done in spring and summer. After pruning, after an autumn and a winter of growth and nutrient accumulation, the flower buds will sprout smoothly in the second year, and more branches and flower buds will grow, and the number of flowers will be many times larger .

Tips for pruning hydrangeas after flowering

The best time to prune hydrangeas is after they have finished blooming , as long as the hydrangeas have finished blooming.

When pruning, we choose to keep the full buds on the branches and cut off the parts above the full buds . In this way, after the hydrangea is cut off, the remaining full buds can sprout quickly and grow quickly.

How to prune Endless Summer hydrangea

For Endless Summer hydrangea, pruning is more casual. After the flowering period, you can prune an extra branch or cut some branches from the bottom to allow it to sprout stronger new buds .

However, pruning should not be done too late in autumn, preferably before August or September .

This gives it enough time to grow, allowing nutrients to accumulate on the branches and bloom more flowers in the spring of next year. After pruning in this way, it will bloom a lot, the seedlings will become big seedlings, bloom a lot, grow roots and branches.

Things to note when pruning hydrangeas

Cut it from the position where there are buds and the buds are full and healthy . After cutting it, new branches will quickly grow from the buds on the branches below.

Therefore, the flower buds of hydrangea seedlings must be cut off in time, ruthlessly, so that it can grow roots and branches safely, and the seedlings will become big seedlings. In this way, the plant will grow bigger next year, and the branches will be full of flower buds.