Pruning Bigleaf Hydrangeas After August: A Careful Approach

While July is the ideal time to prune bigleaf hydrangeas, life sometimes gets in the way. If you missed that window, don't worry—you can still prune later in the season, but with extra caution.

Step-by-Step Late Pruning

Start by cutting back all stems that carried spent blooms by about half. These older stems are the least likely to produce flowers next year. Removing them may sufficiently reduce the shrub's size.

If further reduction is needed, shorten the tallest non-flowering stems. The goal is to preserve as many 12- to 18-inch leafy stems as possible, because these are the branches that will bear next summer's flowers.

Late pruning requires a lighter touch than summer pruning, but it can still keep your hydrangea healthy and well-shaped for the coming season.