The Pruning Process

• 1). Plan to perform your springtime pruning after you see the hydrangea beginning to grow and the leaf buds beginning to break. Carefully remove any dead stems that were damaged by the cold of winter. Remove the dead stems by pruning just above a node on the stem.
  
  
• 2). Control the height and volume of your hydrangea with summertime pruning. Prune your blue hydrangea during the time frame ranging from the middle of July to the middle of August. This should coincide with the plant's full bloom and is perfect timing to control the size.
  
  
• 3). Stop pruning your hydrangea by mid-August to get ready for winter. This variety of hydrangea establishes its flower buds in fall and stores them over the winter. Pruning after this point can remove the buds and reduce the amount of flowers that you will have next year.
  
  
• 4). After the plant is a minimum of five years old, begin removing approximately 1/3 of the living stems down to ground level each year. This will keep your hydrangea healthy and vibrant for years to come.