Pruning Hydrangea paniculata

Hydrangea paniculata is a class act. The showy clusters of flowers (panicles)  appear in late summer just as the garden is losing its summer appeal and give a welcome boost to beds and borders. The showy flowers range from pure white to deep pink and the colour does not vary according to the acidity of the soil. 

Like so many plants, the pruning regime depends on the effect that you want to achieve. Light or minimal pruning will result in many small flowers and harder pruning will give fewer but larger flowers.  You may wish to leave unpruned for a few years and renovate large shrubs once in a while. As with all shrubs that flower from mid summer onwards, prune just as growth commences in spring.

Hydrangea paniculata