How to Prune an Oakleaf Hydrangea

The oakleaf hydrangea is a shrub that can grow 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Its distinctive foliage resembles giant oak leaves. Depending on the variety, the flower clusters can be up to 12 inches long, in shades of white and pink. Hydrangeas are a favorite for dried flowers--the blooms do not lose color or shape when cut. Care should be taken when pruning oakleaf hydrangeas to avoid limiting the following year's flower development.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Cut off old or dead flowers with pruning shears. Prune above the first set of large leaves to avoid disturbing other buds on the bush.

2. Prune dead or broken branches to a healthy section of stem. Dead or broken branches can be pruned at any time of the year.

3. Cut back limbs that rub against each other until they are clear. Cut these limbs during the winter, when there are fewer leaves and it is easier to see inside the bush.

4. Prune back 1/3 of the oldest stems each year during the winter to create a healthier, bushier plant the following spring. Cut the stems down to the ground. This type of pruning should only be done to oakleaf hydrangeas that are at least 5 years old.

5. Cut back any branches that have experienced winterkill. Prune off the dead wood in early spring.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the cuttings to a landfill or burn them to prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases. Do not prune healthy stem tips to maintain the bush's size or shape. The oakleaf hydrangea will quickly regrow any healthy stems that were cut.

• Oakleaf hydrangeas develop flowers on the previous year's growth. Cutting off new growth will cause a decrease in flower production the following season.

References

• Pruning Hydrangeas
• Hydrangea Questions and Answers
• Pruning Trees and Shrubs