Hydrangea Pruning Time

It's March so I pruned my 'Nikko Blue' hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) yesterday.  I know this is a very controversial subject. Some say only prune these right after blooming. Some say prune in late winter. Others say never prune them. 

For me, this will be the third season that I've pruned them in March. My previous March prunings have resulted in good flower production. 

Michael Dirr in his book, Hydrangeas for American Gardens, may best explain my success.  He writes that the flower buds that develop at the end of the stems usually provide the show.  However, if these buds are killed by cold [or pruned], then the additional flower buds lower on the stems are called into action.  

With the warmer winters we've been experiencing,  you should prune well before any green leaf buds start to emerge.  Early March seems to be the right time in my Hamptons garden, but I suspect I would get equal results if I pruned earlier in February.  

And even though I've been quite successful with my pruning strategy, I remain anxious until I see those first hydrangea flower buds in late spring.  Check back in June and see how everything turns out.

 March pruning keeps their size in check

Great show after a March pruning