How severe can I prune my hydrangea paniculata.

bakerbhoy

That's the question.

I got great blooms last summer and large growth.

I want to downsize the shrubs, but don't want to kill them.

looksee

You can cut paniculatas right down, before the new wood starts to sprout as that is what will carry the new blooms. If they are mopheads or lacecaps you will lose this year's flowers, but you won't kill them. I have seen mopheads cut down to a stump and they grew again with great enthusiasm.

My paniculatas have been in about 3 years and are just a nice size, but I will cut them back next year.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123109506#Comment_123109506

Yes correct they're different to the typical ones, can be chopped to the ground if needs be.

magicbastarder

IIRC correctly you can prune them hard, but they might not flower for the first summer after. they flower on last year's wood, not the wood they produce this year.

looksee

MB, don't paniculatas flower on new wood but mopheads and lacecaps on last year's wood?

magicbastarder

Aha, my mistake!

bakerbhoy

A few photos of them in white. Beautiful display.

hydrangea1.jpg

hydrangea2.jpg

hydrangea3.jpg

billyhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123110392#Comment_123110392

You only need to prune the weathered heads of Hydrangeas and it's best done after the last frost. Around Paddy's Day might be a good time to do it.