Don’t Cut Back Ugly Hydrangeas in Late Autumn

Even though the leaves are wilted and ugly, avoid the temptation to cut down hydrangeas in late autumn.  Many shrub hydrangeas (including most oakleaf, lace cap, hortensia hydrangeas)  bloom on last year’s growth, so if they are cut back too far, they won’t bloom next year. And varieties that do bloom on new wood (e.g., Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annebelle’; H. macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’) are best to cut back in late winter.