Pruning a large hydrangea

Negan · August 2020

I have a very large hydrangea in garden, probably 6 foot high and 8 foot wide. It is very nice but I would like to prune it to make it smaller. I would like some help on what is best time of year to do this and best way as I would not want to over prune and kill it.

Fairygirl · August 2020

They're pretty hard to kill, so you can hack it back without too many problems.
You can either give it an all over haircut back to a joint further down, or you can take individual stems out completely to reduce width/height, which will still leave a good amount. Always a good idea to take out old/damaged ones first.
Or, you can remove around a third of the stems right back, and then do that in each of the following couple of years to the rest, so that the whole thing is rejuvenated over three years.
Flowering will then depend on the method you've chosen.

Lyn · August 2020

When I get one that’s really too big for its boots I saw the whole thing down in April, all of it, it will grow lovely fresh leaves but won’t flower, however the result the following year is stunning, I’ve never been one to take out a bit here and there although a lot of people do.
Just a preference I suppose.

Negan · August 2020

Thank you both

Fairygirl · August 2020

I'm inclined to agree @Lyn, although I sometimes do the second option of removing selected stems right back, if I want to keep the natural shape. I do that with one of my oak leaf ones. I've never been very keen on the 'three year' malarkey

Good luck with whichever way you pick @Negan. Hopefully it will revive it well too - it usually benefits them to have a bit of a hack back

Lyn · August 2020

Just for example, this one was cut to the ground in April 19, this was it this year.

Pruning a large hydrangea

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