Hydrangea Care and Pruning Tips for Big, Beautiful Blooms

“Hydrangeas are the absolute easiest plants to grow,” says home gardener and Instagrammer Dana Paradis of Eastham, Massachusetts. The 70-plus specimens surrounding her c. 1775 home also bloom each summer on her Instagram feed (@thisoldcapehouse), where she posts handy videos about care and pruning. If you’re new to the hydrangea craze, here’s some advice from Paradis on selecting and caring for hydrangeas, plus hydrangea care and pruning tips.

Hydrangea Care and Pruning Tips

1. Choose the Right Hydrangeas for Your Zone

This is critical to selecting a variety that will thrive in your area. It’s generally best to mix “old wood” and “new wood” (or “next generation”) blooming varieties, in case of a cold snap that will kill the buds. (Endless Summer is an excellent next-gen bloomer if you’re looking for a traditional big-leaf mophead hydrangea.)

2. Find the Best Spot to Plant Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas prefer dappled sunlight or early morning sun and can tolerate or even welcome summer shade. Other factors to consider in garden placement: color, size, style, and timing of the bloom.

3. How (and When) to Water Hydrangeas

Plan to water regularly, especially in high summer. Hydrangeas get stressed in the heat, and they will let you know when they are feeling poorly—blooms will droop, leaves will wilt and appear parched, stems will start to bow. If you do miss a few days of watering, however, your plants should revive after a good soaking. (When watering by hand, aim for the earth to hydrate roots, not the leaves or the blossoms.)

4. Prune Hydrangeas According to Type

Prune judiciously in the off-season, with an awareness of the specific variety and whether it blooms on old wood or new. (Check out the basic pruning tutorials that Dana Paradis has posted on her Instagram account.)

5. Cut Hydrangeas for Arrangements the Right Way

Hydrangeas are beautiful on their own or in arrangements of cut flowers. For my untamed Cape Cod blue mopheads, I cut the heavier blooms toward the base of the plant. To avoid the indoor droop, harvest during the coolest part of the day. Cut the stems at 45 degrees and dip the cut ends in boiling water for 30 seconds or so before you place in water, making sure that no leaves are below the water line. A few stems will fill a vase and make your heart lift.

This was originally published as “A Pro’s Primer for Big Blooms” in the July/August 2025 issue of Yankee.

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