The hydrangea paniculata is a beautiful variety.  These varieties will grow in many climates. They are different from traditional lacecaps or Mop Heads because they require several hours of sunshine.

They are very tolerant of pruning which makes them attractive to many people. You can prune them almost any time throughout the year with the exception of the formation of bloom heads during the summer. In fact this is the only variety of hydrangeas that can be pruned into a new form of tree.

When to prune

You can prune this particular variety during the fall, winter, or spring but you do not have to prune them on an annual basis. It is better that you trim out certain crossing branches so that they don’t layer on top of one another and creates an unattractive form as they get older.

How to prune hydrangea paniculata

With this variety of hydrangeas you will see blooms on new wood. These are particularly rewarding hydrangeas to grow because they will try to bloom on an annual basis regardless of how you treat them.

The only time you cannot prune this particular hydrangea trees in the summer when the hydrangea is preparing to bloom.

Many people who use this variety to create a hedge around the garden will typically cut back within a few inches off the ground during the fall just so that the plants don’t become aesthetically displeasing during the winter. Rest assured that when spring and summer come’s around they will still try to bloom beautifully and even the most drastic of pruning will not inhibit the blooms however the stems may need something to help support them.

Removing dead blooms

If you want to remove the dead blooms, you can, much like the plant itself, do this anytime of the year. If you do it during the summer when the new buds are growing you need to be incredibly careful so that you don’t damage the blooms.  If you do you simply won’t have as many of those beautiful panicle shaped blooms the following year. However, you can remove the dead blooms by cutting off short stems at any time of the year.

Image by JacLou DL from Pixabay