Should You Cut Your Hydrangeas If the Flowers Die?

Known for their big beautiful blooms, hydrangeas are a classic pick if you want to add a splash of color to your flower beds. Best of all, they’re not particularly difficult to maintain, but there are still some things worth knowing—like if you should cut the flowers when they die.

We turned to a professional garden designer to find out. 

Should You Cut Hydrangeas If the Flowers Die?

According to gardening pro Linda Vater, no, it’s not necessary to cut back your hydrangeas once the flowers fade. But that also doesn’t mean it will cause the bush any damage if you do decide you want to remove these former blooms.

“It really just comes down to personal preference,” Vater says, noting that in some cases, cutting can encourage more abundant flowering, but it’s not a guarantee.

Plenty of people, however, do remove their dead hydrangeas purely for aesthetic reasons, which Vater says is fine, too.

“Hydrangea flowers often age gracefully, and leaving the dried flower heads can create winter interest,” she says.

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What to Do With Hydrangeas After the Flowers Die

If you do decide to cut back your hydrangeas once the flowers start to fade, Vater says you should stop in the fall.

“All pruning should cease in fall to avoid stimulating new growth that could be damaged by winter cold,” she explains.

Why Your Hydrangea Flowers Died

There are a few reasons you might notice dead flowers on your hydrangea bush, according to Vater.

• They’re dying as a natural part of their life cycle.
• The blooms have fully matured and are now naturally fading with time.
• Drought conditions have caused some blooms to die.
• Extreme heat is affecting your plant’s ability to flower.

Regardless of the cause, Vater says you can trim off any unsightly brown blooms to help tidy up your shrub, but if they’re simply drying out due to the time of year, make the most of it.

“They can add texture and visual interest to your garden during the colder months,” she says. 

How to Cut Hydrangeas 

According to Vater, snipping off hydrangea blooms is incredibly easy. You just need to decide if you’d like to deadhead spent blooms, prune for maintenance, or cut your flowers for display. 

Deadheading

If deadheading old wood bloomers, such as bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas, Vater suggests pruning minimally after flowering. This will protect next year’s blooms.

Simply snip spent blooms to the first full set of leaves below the flower and avoid any leaflets.

Maintenance Pruning

1. Determine your type of hydrangea. 
2. If pruning an old wood bloomer, aim for summer, just after flowering, so that new buds can form. If you miss this window, wait until next summer.
3. If pruning a new wood bloomer, aim for early fall to late winter or early spring, before new growth begins.

Cutting Dried Flowers for Display

1. Wait until the petals feel papery and have faded in color.
2. Look for the best blooms, as drying is more likely to highlight any imperfection in shape. 
3. Using sharp shears, cut stems 12-18inches long, at an angle.
4. Strip the leaves from the stems.

Hang these flowers upside down in a dry, dark area for longest preservation.