Small Hydrangeas – Prune or Leave Alone

Q: I recently planted some small hydrangeas. Should I prune them or should I let them get some root growth first?

A: I think I’d opt for leaving them unpruned for the time being. Like all plants, hydrangea roots respond to hormones which are produced at the branch tips. If you prune your shrubs now, the roots won’t receive the signals to elongate and explore your soil. You might get a few blooms next summer so wait until after they fade to perform your first pruning.