When is the best time to prune hydrangea?

These plants are amazing. Panicle hydrangeas, like limelights and quick fire, can withstand brutal pruning and they are still prolific with their blooms (as long as they’re getting enough light). They create buds on the NEW growth each year so the most common time to prune them is late winter/early spring, although you can also prune in the fall. (Note: this is NOT the same for the big leaf/Macrophylla species, which forms buds on the stems for the NEXT year’s flowers. As you can see from the wa