How & When to Prune Limelight Hydrangeas for Best Growth

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A step-by-step guide for trimming limelight hydrangeas
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Limelight hydrangeas are a type of woody hydrangea that produce large, football-shaped flowers in the spring. These flowers are a beautiful addition to your yard or landscape, and luckily, they’re easy to trim. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to prune limelight hydrangeas, when to prune them, how to care for them, and answer common questions about them.

When to Trim Limelight Hydrangeas

Prune limelight hydrangeas in late winter or early spring to promote new growth. Remove small branches to grow larger blooms and cut off 1/3 of the plant’s growth to form a steady base. Cut off dead, diseased, or damaged branches any time of year. Cut each branch at a 45-degree angle so water runs off.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Prune Limelight Hydrangeas

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  1. When you prune a plant, the parts you cut are vulnerable to infection. Clean your pruners or loppers by wiping them down with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol. Scrub away any dirt, sap, and other debris. [1]
    • Buy hand pruners or loppers at most hardware or home improvement stores.
    • If you have to cut any diseased branches, give your pruners another wipe down between cuts so you don’t accidentally damage other healthy branches.
  2. This process is called deadheading. Your hydrangea will still have its old flowers on it from the previous year’s bloom. These flowers are dead, as you’ll probably be able to tell by their color and dried out feel. While it isn’t necessary to remove them, deadheading keeps the plant looking tidy while you wait for new blooms. [2]
    • Some people like the look that the old blooms bring to their garden in winter. If you do, it’s perfectly fine to leave them on.

    Tip: Cut off some flowers during the spring to make a beautiful bouquet. Cutting off flowers while they are blooming won’t hurt your plant.

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  3. Look for the nodes on the branches of your hydrangea. These will look like two small bumps next to each other. The nodes are what create new growth. Clip right above them so that they stay on your plant and make it easier for it to create new branches. Always clip at an angle so that water doesn’t pool on top of where you cut. [3]
    • If the nodes are hard to see, use your fingers to feel for two pin-head sized bumps that are side by side.
  4. It’s important to check your limelight hydrangea for dead/dying, diseased, and damaged branches to keep it healthy and looking its best. Dead or dying branches will be more gray than other branches, and they’re typically lighter and less dense. Diseased branches may have cankers on the stems and brown or yellow spots on leaves and blooms. Cut these branches off to preserve your plant’s health. [4]
  5. Branches that cross over each other or rub closely together not only give your hydrangea a tangled, messy appearance, but they can sometimes merge together or damage each other when they rub together. Cut the branch that is crooked back to the base of the plant so that it’s more likely to grow straight when new growth appears. [5]
  6. As you’re pruning, you may notice some branches have holes in the center. This often means there’s an insect inside, which can damage the plant if left alone. Snip these branches back to the next healthy node and examine it. If it’s still hollow, keep clipping it back until the wood is solid all the way through. [6]
  7. Your limelight hydrangea will grow bigger blooms if you cut away small, twig-like branches from its base, as this allows the plant to send all of its energy into the larger branches when it’s time to bloom . It isn’t necessary to remove small branches for the plant’s health, however. If you leave them on, your hydrangea will grow more flowers, but they will be smaller. [7]
    • Try leaving the small branches in your hydrangea for a season and see how the flowers look. If they are too small, cut them out the following winter.
  8. If your limelight hydrangea has grown too tall for your liking, clip all the branches down, cutting off no more than 1/3 of the plant’s total growth. This will leave a strong base of old wood to support new growth in the spring. Limelight hydrangeas in particular are great at coming back from huge chops, and your plant will have no problem recovering from being cut down like this. [8]
    • When pruning in general, it’s usually best not to remove more than 1/3 of the plant’s growth at one time. This helps ensure the plant stays healthy.
    • Don’t cut your hydrangea shorter than 18 inches (46 cm) above the ground. Any shorter, and it might be too hard for your plant to grow back.
    • If necessary, use a tape measure to determine where to cut the branches.
  9. Branches that are particularly long or stick out awkwardly can make the hydrangea look messy. Examine the plant from all sides to determine which branches you want to cut, then simply prune them back so they are even with the rest of the branches. [9]
    • Pruning like this is entirely up to your stylistic discretion. Shape your hydrangea however you’d like. Just remember that it will grow leaves and new flowers in the spring.
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Section 2 of 4:

When to Prune Limelight Hydrangeas

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  1. Limelight hydrangeas are hearty plants so it’s possible to prune them at any time of the year. However, it’s easiest to prune them in late winter or early spring because the leaves will have fallen off and it will be easier to see and access the branches. New growth won’t grow until later in spring, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally cutting off new blooms. [10]

    Tip: When you prune in the late winter/early spring, you can cut your plant before it blooms and control how many flowers it gets.

  2. Limelight hydrangeas can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, so if you have a relatively small space, it may be necessary to cut them back if they outgrow it. Trimming at least 1/3 of the height off the top is a great way to keep them from growing too tall. [11]
    • Hydrangeas are hearty plants, so cutting them back won’t hurt them. In fact, it helps them grow bigger and faster.
  3. Sometimes, limelight hydrangeas will produce so many flowers that their branches can’t hold all of the weight. If your plant’s branches are sagging or the overall shape of the hydrangea is droopy, thin out some of the branches. [12]
    • Hydrangea flowers are usually fairly large, and they can hold on to a lot of water during the rainy season. This makes them especially heavy.
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Section 3 of 4:

Limelight Hydrangea Care Tips

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  1. If you live in a cooler climate, it’s okay to plant hydrangeas in summer if you’ll be around to monitor their watering needs. If you live somewhere warmer, it’s generally better to plant them in early spring or fall. [13]
  2. If you live in a cooler climate, limelight hydrangeas will typically thrive under full sunlight. If you live in a warmer area, plant them where they’ll receive morning sunlight and shade during the hottest part of the day. [14]
    • Limelight hydrangeas are hardy when grown down to USDA zone 3 and are heat tolerant through zone 8. [15]
  3. Hydrangeas generally prefer a rich, well-draining soil; it doesn’t matter what kind, as long as the soil doesn’t stay wet for long. Unlike other types of hydrangeas, the pH of the soil doesn’t affect limelight hydrangeas’ bloom color. [16]
  4. Limelight hydrangeas have moderate watering needs once they’re well-established. If it rains regularly, you likely won’t have to water them. Otherwise, water them deeply a couple times a week as needed to mimic rainfall. [17]
  5. Typically, limelight hydrangeas do well with light fertilization. Apply a granular flower food fertilizer according to package instructions in early spring. In many cases, the plant will not need another dose until the following spring. However, if the hydrangea needs it, apply another dose in late summer. [18]
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Section 4 of 4:

Limelight Hydrangea FAQs

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  1. It’s technically possible, but it isn’t recommended. If you live in a very cold climate with strong frosts in the winter, it’s best to wait until spring, as the frost could get into the hydrangea’s pruning wounds and damage it. Cutting too early in the fall could also cause the plant to grow new shoots before going dormant, which could be damaged by the cold weather. [19]
    • If you’re only removing dead or damaged wood, this can be done at any time of the year.
  2. Like with fall, it’s technically possible but not recommended. It’s better to prune in late winter or early spring when the plant is dormant so you can see which branches need to be removed. If you prune in summer, you risk cutting off new growth. It is okay to remove dead or damaged wood at any time of year, however. [20]
  3. It isn’t necessary to deadhead, or remove old blooms, from limelight hydrangeas. This is ultimately a personal preference, as some choose to remove them to make the plant look more uniform when dormant. Others enjoy the look of the old blooms in their winter garden. Choose whatever looks best to you. [21]
  4. No, not all hydrangeas grow the same way, so pruning them all the same way could cause you to lose a whole year’s worth of blooms. Limelight hydrangeas bloom from new growth, while some hydrangeas bloom from old growth, so clipping the wrong branches could be damaging. Research each type of hydrangea to determine the best way to prune it . [22]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I cut hydrangeas for a vase?
    Jeanne Walker
    Florist
    Jeanne Walker is a Florist and the Owner of Fringe Flower Company, a floral design shop that specializes in weddings, special events, and daily deliveries. Fringe Flower Company, based in Walnut Creek, California, provides customized hand-tied and vase bouquets along with potted plants, succulent gardens, tulip french buckets, and wreaths. Jeanne also conducts floral design workshops and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
    Jeanne Walker
    Florist
    Expert Answer
    Cut the hydrangea at an angle—this increases the surface area and allows the flower to take in more water at the bottom. Also, scrape the outer edges lightly, which encourages the open cells to take in water.
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      Tips

      • Limelight hydrangeas are panicle hydrangeas, named for their large, cone-shaped flowers known as panicles. [23]
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      Warnings

      • Hydrangeas are toxic to humans and animals, so do not ingest and wash your hands after handling. Keep pets away from your hydrangeas. [24]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-sanitize-my-pruners-prevent-spread-disease
      2. ↑ https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pruning-Hydrangeas.pdf
      3. ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/general-care-hydrangeas
      4. ↑ https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pruning-Hydrangeas.pdf
      5. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/pruning-trees-and-shrubs
      6. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/elusive-hydrangea-cane-borer
      7. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/garden/flowers/prune-hydrangeas
      8. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/in-the-limelight-hydrangea-paniculata/
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dwC0x01IuM&t=54
      1. ↑ https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pruning-Hydrangeas.pdf
      2. ↑ https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1152/
      3. ↑ https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1152/
      4. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hydrangea/
      5. ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight/
      6. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/in-the-limelight-hydrangea-paniculata/
      7. ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight/
      8. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/in-the-limelight-hydrangea-paniculata/
      9. ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/general-care-hydrangeas
      10. ↑ https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2022/10/03/pruning-hydrangeas/
      11. ↑ https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pruning-Hydrangeas.pdf
      12. ↑ https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pruning-Hydrangeas.pdf
      13. ↑ https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pruning-Hydrangeas.pdf
      14. ↑ https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1152/
      15. ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea/

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