How much should I prune my hydrangeas?

First check what kind of hydrangea it is, because pruning at the wrong time can cost you flowers. Many mophead and lacecap types bloom on last year’s stems, so avoid cutting the whole plant back. You can snip off a faded flower just above a healthy pair of buds, or leave the heads on until spring and tidy them then.

Panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new growth and can generally be pruned in late winter or early spring. If you don’t know the type, keep pruning light until you can identify it. Deadheading is mostly for appearance, not something the plant needs to survive.

For the drooping and sparse-looking parts, I’d avoid a big haircut as a quick fix. Give the plant a season to grow into the gap, and use soft ties or a discreet support to keep heavy stems from flopping. Cutting everything to one height can remove flowering stems, depending on the variety.

For routine care, water the soil thoroughly when it’s drying out, especially in a pot, but make sure extra water can drain away. A dry-looking surface doesn’t always tell you what’s happening deeper down, so check the soil before watering again.

You can also skip deadheading if you like the dried flower heads. They’re not harmful to leave on, and it saves you from guessing where to cut. Just remove damaged or dead wood, and do it gradually rather than reshaping the whole shrub at once.