Knowledgebase

Hydrangea Trimming #926388

Asked March 20, 2026, 2:40 PM EDT

Hello, Our hydrangeas have become quite large! We cut them down to about 3 feet tall last year and they still exploded. I'm curious what the best strategy is to keep them under control. The bulbs were big and beautiful but the stalks were so long they just titled over after the first rain. I attached 2 photos - one is what they currently look like and another from before they totally drooped over from the rain.

Carver County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you roar reaching out.

It really really likes its spot!  You seemed to haves trimmed it correctly.  You have a paniculata hydrangea-I’m not sure which variety, but they bloom on new wood.  They can be cut back to 2 feet if you want to.

 Different shrubs are meant to be a distinctive height depending on the variety and you can’t stop them from growing that size.  The heads just get too heavy.  You could try propping up the stems, but that will take away the look.  Unfortunately it is what hydrangeas do.  Because of the time they bloom you don’t want to trim them mid season and that would be the only way to stop them-keep trimming- but you’d get no flowers.  
Depending on how old they are, you could try to move them and put in a shorter variety. I personally think they’re beautiful.

I wish I could be more help, but you can’t stop them from growing and flopping.

Deb Kroon Replied March 21, 2026, 5:20 PM EDT
Thanks Deb, I appreciate the help! 
I agree they are beautiful. Last year was the first year they drooped and it made me sad because they didn’t look as nice. I attached another photo I found that was after the first heavy rain where they drooped and never popped back up. I’ll try trimming them down to two feet.
image

On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 16:20 Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied March 23, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT

Maybe another thing to try is to gently shake off the water when it rains hard.

Good luck and happy spring!

Deb Kroon Replied March 23, 2026, 10:02 AM EDT

Loading ...