Help with pruning hydrangea

I guess its a paniculate. I am not sure if i should just dehead at the flower base or just remove petals?
Thanks

my concern is if i cut at the flower base, will the plant flower again? also new leaves have started growing on the existing branches.

Don't make me lie , LOL , I was hoping to get the same question answered .

I would cut off the whole flower head down into a part of the stem where leaves are growing.
Most Hydrangeas will break new buds if you cut into old wood, but I do not think that is needed here.

If you will post another picture I might be able to show you where to cut.
A picture of just one flowering stem from the base (or near the base) to the top.
Stretch out a flowering branch so it is straight (more or less) and hold the others back out of the way.

Don't mean to hijack your post , Arch.
Got it Diana , thanks .

Thanks Diana, i removed the smaller twigs to which the petals were attached and did not cut the main branch mainly due to concern that it might not flower this year. is it too late to be pruning the branches at this time of the year (live in minnesota)? i read that they should be pruned in early spring!

Pruning the Hydrangea's in spring is best IF you get severe winters, the bushiness of un-pruned shrubs normally offers winter protection from freeze etc, then when you prune in spring soon as you find new little fat buds bursting from the stems is indication the plant is ready to grow and recover from winter sleep.
After pruning, most shrubs will try put out new (Tender) shoots and the freeze / frost of winter can kill this tender new growth, once there is frost bite on new growth, it can continue down the whole stems killing a lot more of the shrub.
I dont know IF you get these winter conditions, However I always think best to play safe and prune in spring to be on the safe side.
After pruning, spread a handful of slow release feed (fish / Bone / blood) is a good one as it comes in packets already mixed, just make sure you read the dosage as too much feed is NOT good.

The type of pruning you are talking about is called Deadheading, that is your removing the flowering heads when they are beginning to wither, you have to do this in the growing season, it tricks the plant into thinking it has NOT made flowers, so when you remove the old flowers, the plant has to make more. this gives you a longer show of new flowers,

You can take cuttings NOW from your Hydrangea, cut NON flowering stems about 8 inches long, make the cut just below a set of leaves, do a few cuttings at one time,
Fill a pot with compost and add a little horticultural sand to this compost, mix it in, fill the pot to an inch below the top, then remove 3 inches of leaves from the bottom by gently cutting off the leaves, at the stems, then insert the prepared cuttings around the outer edge of the compost inside the pot
Place the pot in a saucer of water till the compost turns a darker colour (about half an hour) then drain the water, place the cuttings in a coolish place with good light, NOT direct sunlight,
After about 8-12 weeks, the cuttings should be growing roots and leave them in the pot until the pot is showing roots from the bottom, once this happens, remove the cuttings very carefully and use a pencil or stick to help you tug the roots apart, carefully place the rooted cuttings into individual pots and place them outside in a sheltered area, bring inside for winter and Next spring put them outside in garden and treat as the parent plant by offering water, feed and just keep an eye on them.
Hope this gives you more fun from your Hydrangea plants, you can take other cuttings the same way from other shrubs, just dont do this late summer as the plants / shrubs will be going into winter sleep so wont produce roots.
Have fun, enjoy your garden and lets know how you get on.
Kindest regards.
WeeNel.

You are not too late to prune. The plant has all summer to get ready for winter. I would not go too deep into the plant, not all the way to the ground. But definitely get rid of any branches without leaves, and the old flower heads. The whole cluster- don't try to snip out little bits- the remaining part won't grow more flowers so no reason to save it.

Wee Nell , I always enjoy reading your posts , you have so much information . Thanks again for all you do .

Always good to know someone is getting help or info, But there are lots of the good folks here, I truly believe you reap what you sow. and was brought up to always believe someone is asking for help because they really cant think what to do or have tried and all went wrong.
Thank goodness for Dave's Garden Site Eh !!!!!, we get to have contact with lovely people like you Digger.
Have a great gardening season.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Yes , WeeNell , I seldom go on the beginners forums now . All my stuff has matured and not planting anything new .I value your knowledge of plants . Perhaps we'll meet some day . It would be nice if you lived closer and could attend some Roundups so a lot of us could get to know you and have you give a small class on plants .

Your so very kind to say such lovely things re any contribution I have made towards your gardening or any other subjects some folks post, nothing to do with gardening just something happened to them in some phase of their life, I find some folks as interesting as my gardening, however, I'm in no way a teacher, I'd rather be an adviser than a teacher, the latter seems to be more authoritive to me somehow, .I'd rather take the time to offer some encouragement, give my best instructions as to why, how to, and some do's and don'ts,
I'm at an age that sometime I feel life is way too short for confrontations, BUT at the same time I honestly cant stand ignorance, bad manners or rudeness, I'm just me, warts and all. I dont pretend to be anything but what I am, but most of all I hate smart asses who are so rude they put other newbies off staying with Dave's, because those silly people don't understand, were here to HELP each other out.
I would love to be able to meet up some day that would be something EH !!!!.
Until we can travel like Mr Spock on the good old Star Ship, this is as close as we can all get to friendships and helping others to try get the enjoyment we've all had through gardening.
Stay with us digger, your garden has evidently matured now, so you take up the teachers hat LOL.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

,

Me ? Good heavens , no . I'm still learning .
I've learned that pruning azaleas each year is more work than I'm up to and took out all the pink and Encore ones yesterday . They were overgrown and after pruning , decided I didn't want to put out the effort each year . BAM , gone . Opened my yard nicely .Sweet hubby drug them to the composter . My red , compact ones are less work and a tribute to my departed mother in law as they were given to us at her funeral . Several cuttings from them have been gracing the front yard for fifteen years now . Hugs ,

Isn't a true garden made up with a bit of this and a touch of that, all from someone we love or who loved us, I have plants and a couple of headless little statues from dear old friends no longer with us and even though the little cherub heads are now covered in moss, I still wash them from time to time with due care LOL, I think I have a touch of the dementia that manifests it'self as daft but happy with my lot !!!!!' I've just read a saying from ANON, who wrote Common sense is a flower that doesn't grow in everyone's garden, Now aint that the truth Digger LOL.

My Azalea's are kept in check these days by the deer who arrive each day, I used to go chase these horned little creatures but as I got older I just thought, "what the heck" this saves me dead-heading, but the Roses have disappeared all but a few climbers, I'm now also at the stage after gardening 10 acres for 40 odd years, it's time to hang up some of my gardening tools and go outside to smell the flowers rather than dig, clear and plant any more. I will just try be caretaker to what I still manage to do, My husband thinks his wallet will swell out more and I think he's being a bit hasty planning that far ahead ha, ha, ha.

Stay with what you can manage to achieve in the garden Digger and just enjoy what you have, and remember all that you have achieved over the years, not everyone is able to do that,.
There are folks out there who will be thanking you for your advice, help or just kindness.

Best Regards.
WeeNel.

The deer haven't bothered my azaleas or hosta haven't been bothered by deer in several years altho I have a possum that comes on the porch at night to help himself to cat food and a long drink of water . I'll keep on feeding him because he has an injured tail that will heal faster with food available instead of trapping him and setting him out to fend for himself away from here . I have to nudge him off the porch rail before I let my dogs out of the house . I need to go to town today and will look for non - burning antibiotic spray for his tail to help him along . We have a white spotted deer in the neighborhood again this year . Hope the hunters leave her alone this fall .
I do give thanks for what I can do because so many out there can't do anything . If it will load , I'll include a picture of my dad , nothing stopped him .He's been gone over thirty years and I have a lot of his gump .

Thank's Arch for letting us go off topic on your thread .

Arch Sorry about the off Gardening Chatter, please let you understand that idle chatter sometimes does happen here on Dave's, Some people may find that annoying while other are inclined to join in,
But it does let you understand that here on Dave's, we are all human with gardening in common.
Take good care and enjoy your gardening year.
Best Regards.
WeeNel.