Hydrangeas Through the Year
When to prune, feed and protect every type, from panicle to bigleaf, in one calm calendar.
A hydrangea does not need much from you, and that is the point. Start with healthy plants, give them a spot that suits them and water them through the first few weeks. After that, a layer of mulch and a quick look once a week is most of the job.
Know your type first
Panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood, so you can cut them back in late winter. Bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood: prune them right after flowering, or not at all.
Spring
Remove dead stems, add compost around the base and water deeply once a week if spring is dry.
Fall
Leave the dried flower heads on. They protect the buds and look lovely under frost.