After My Hydrangeas Bloom, Should I Harvest Them?

Hydrangeas are a beautiful and vibrant plant that can be propagated after their blooms have ended in late August. The care taken with these plants can significantly impact their health and the quality of their blooms next year. Deadheading them as they fade is essential for maintaining their freshness and longevity. For summer-blooming hydrangeas, pruning should occur immediately after they finish blooming, as new growth emerges from midsummer until the first frost. Smooth hydrangeas can be deadheaded throughout the season but should stop in late July.

Endless Summer Hydrangeas can be pruned in early fall after flowering, while those on new wood (like Panicle hydrangeas) should be pruned in late winter or early spring. It is best to pick hydrangea flowers as they have turned dusky pink or before they have rained or in early morning dew.

To ensure proper drying, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place. This not only provides winter interest but also prevents removal of buds that will become flowers next spring. Hydrangeas are tolerant of hard pruning, so it is important to know the flowering cycle of a plant before pruning.

Timing is crucial when cutting hydrangea blooms for drying. Cut stems in the morning after the dew has dried. If you don’t like the appearance of old flowers, you can clip them. Most shrubs that bloom on old wood should be pruned immediately after they are done flowering, but it is important to avoid cutting off the flower buds. Endless Summer® The Original is an exception.