Pruning hydrangeas at the right time is crucial to ensure healthy blooms for the following year. If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to cut back your hydrangeas, the answer largely depends on the type of hydrangea you have and the timing of your pruning.
Types of Hydrangeas and Pruning Timing Old Wood Bloomers: Varieties like Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf) and Hydrangea serrata bloom on old wood, meaning they develop flower buds on last year's growth.
Pruning these hydrangeas too late in the season—especially after they have set buds—can result in the loss of next year’s blooms. It’s best to prune these immediately after flowering or in late winter before new growth begins.
New Wood Bloomers: Hydrangeas such as Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens bloom on new wood. These can be pruned in late fall or early spring without risking next year's flowers, as they set buds on new growth.
Risks of Late Pruning Pruning too late in the season can remove the flower buds that have already formed, especially for old wood bloomers.
This can lead to a lack of blooms in the following year, diminishing the overall beauty of your garden.
If you have old wood bloomers and haven’t pruned yet, it’s advisable to wait until late winter or early spring to avoid cutting off potential blooms. For new wood bloomers, you can still safely prune them now.