How to Deadhead an Endless Summer Hydrangea

Remove old flower clusters often from Endless Summer hydrangea.

Endless Summer hydrangeas bloom from early spring through late summer, providing a longer flowering period when compared to other hydrangea varieties. Removing the spent flowers, a process called deadheading, encourages the hydrangea to continue producing more flower buds. Once plants set seed, they stop flowering. Preventing the seed set by deadheading signals the plant to produce more flowers. Since Endless Summer hydrangeas bloom on both new and old wood, severe deadheading in midsummer encourages even more blossom set.

Things You'll Need

• Shears

Instructions

1. Cut off the flowers as soon as the petals begin to wilt and fade. Cut the stems back to the nearest leaf or flower bud with sharp shears.

2. Trim back the entire plant in midsummer when flowering begins to slow. Remove up to half of each branch's length. This encourages new growth and bud production.

3. Deadhead the new flush of blooms as they fade. Continue to remove spent flowers until the hydrangea stops blooming in late summer or early fall.

4. Prune back the entire hydrangea once it stops blooming in the fall. Remove up to one-half of the plant. Shape the remaining branches as desired. This final trim encourages healthy flowering in the spring.

Tips & Warnings

• Use clean shears when deadheading so you don't spread any diseases or pests between plants.

References

• University of California Extension: When Should I Prune My Hydrangeas?
• Iowa State University: 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea Brings Endless Summer Color