Can I turn them back into bushes?

Oct 09, Springtime pruning. Just hydrangeas that produce flowers in spring should be pruned in the spring. These are the flowers that produce new development and new buds come late spring. With these, you should prune them when the flowers are done sprouting.

Remove any old blooming stems or congested stems so energy can be redirected to the new development. Sep 04, Since panicled hydrangeas flower from new growth produced starting in mid-spring, it will bloom abundantly even after a severe early spring pruning. To maintain its treelike appearance, with a well-defined “trunk” also remove any suckers that appear at the base of the plant as well as any growth that appears on the trunk itself. Apr 17, How to prune hydrangeas in spring – pruning old hydrangea stems.

Can I cut branches back and, if so, at what period?

Cut out any thin, weak stems around the base of the plant and remove one or two of the largest, oldest stems from as low down as possible to promote new shoots from the base. These will grow over the next few years and carry blooms in the treeclear.bar: BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Apr 12, When you prune these hydrangeas only cut away dead wood in the fall or the early spring.

When you are pruning you can cut one or two of the older stems down to the base so that new branches grow with better fullness. If your plant is older or damaged you can prune all of Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins. Aug 18, Oakleaf hydrangea (blooms on old wood): Prune in summer, immediately after flowering. Prune the dead wood anytime, cutting back just above the buds on stems and/or remove the largest canes to the ground.

Prune sparingly to enjoy the amber peeling bark and lovely fall color.