I have a five year old Annabelle Hydrangea that is getting bushy. I have lightly pruned it in the past, but I don't know really know how I am supposed to do it. It is about 4' high and 6' wide. How do I prune it to optimize the flowering?
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Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' flower on new wood, therefore you can safely prune off as much material as you wish in late Winter...
This species blooms on new wood, and may be pruned back close to the ground in late winter each year to revitalize and to encourage vigorous stem growth and best form. Plants may die to the ground in harsh winters. If not pruned back, any weakened and/or damaged stems should be removed in early spring.
The most straightforward hydrangeas to prune are the mostly white flowered, extremely tough and hardy Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens cultivars. H. paniculata cultivars, among others, include 'Brussels Lace,' 'Kyushu,' 'Pee Gee,' 'Pee Wee,' 'Pink Diamond,' 'Unique' and 'White Moth.' H. arborescens cultivars include 'Annabelle' and 'Hills of Snow.' All selections of these two species flower on new wood. Therefore, they can be cut back immediately after flowering and may rebloom (for H. arborescens in long growing seasons) or they can be cut back in the winter and still be expected to flower the following year. How far you cut them back is strictly personal preference. Unless you live in a restricted community with pruning covenants, there are no pruning police. You do not HAVE to prune H. arborescens or H. paniculata at all but it makes for a neater plant and, if you want long stems for fresh or dried flowers, pruning back hard encourages long stems on older plants.
Mike Perry
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Pruning your mop-head hydrangea, specifically the Annabelle variety, is relatively straightforward and can help optimise flowering. Annabelle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, meaning they produce flowers on growth from the current season. This gives you flexibility when it comes to pruning.
Here’s how to prune your Annabelle hydrangea effectively:
Timing: Prune only in early spring, after the last frost. This helps avoid potential frost damage to freshly cut stems and ensures strong growth for the season.
Method: Cut all the stems back to about 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) above the ground. This encourages vigorous new growth and larger flower heads. If you prefer smaller, more numerous blooms, leave the stems slightly longer.
Shaping: Remove any crossing or damaged stems to maintain a balanced, open structure. This improves air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.
Maintenance Pruning: During the growing season, remove spent blooms to keep the plant tidy and redirect energy into new growth.
By following these steps, your Annabelle hydrangea should produce healthy, abundant blooms and maintain a manageable size. For a detailed guide on caring for and pruning Annabelle hydrangeas, check out this website, where I am a contributor: How to care Annabelle hydrangea.
