Overgown Hydrangea-Can I 'prune' it right down to nearly soil level?

[Kathie]

My neighbour has an overgrown Hydrangea which is approx. 6ft in height and very spindly with very few flower buds.She has asked me to 'prune' it right down--but I would like advice please --by How much and when? Personally I would be inclined to dispose of it!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

Give it your best try!!! I have been trying to kill an unwanted hydrangea for 10 years! Chop the blighter right the way back, takes them a couple years to come back and flower again so you do get a break. Chop it down any time you feel inclined. I think to keep them in check and flowering you cut back half every year but not sure if that is quite right. Enjoy!

[Kathie]

Shirley--You are my gardening friend!!--You have confirmed just what I would like to do with it so will give it a very close shave!! Thanks for your reply--Kath

[carlseawolf]

i chopped three at work that where 5' plus in size back in november to about a foot above the ground, the text book recomend march but i wait untill the majority of the flowers have died then prune .
they are now 3' high and flowering , good luck if your trying to kill it as they are tough plants.

[Alison]

You can indeed chop them right back, they'll look a bit stunted for a year but next year will be back flowering again and a much healthier bush.

[Alice]

Hello Kathie, you could cut that hydrangea to the ground. It won't flower well this year if you do but it will live. Might be lovely next year.

[Kathie]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will chop it right back to ground level this year and see how it grows next year. I am on friendly terms with my neighbour and help her quite a bit in her garden, so wanted to do the right thing.---Kath

[annieb]

My neighbour has an overgrown Hydrangea which is approx. 6ft in height and very spindly with very few flower buds.She has asked me to 'prune' it right down--but I would like advice please --by How much and when? Personally I would be inclined to dispose of it!!!

I would wait until flowering has finished then cut some branches to the base and reduce the rest by half. You may have to forgo flowers next year but should have a lovely show in 2009. I have a garden full of hydrangeas which grow like weeds and I've used this method and not managed to kill any of them.

[terrier]

If you can't beat 'em....

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/pruning.html

[DFV]

Many years ago I had a couple of hydrangeas bordering my front path. I used to leave the old flowers/foliage on until late March and then prune them hard back to one or two buds above ground level. They never failed to grow back to about four feet and flower like mad each year.
That was around twenty years ago and when I last drove past my old house a year or two ago, the plants were still going strong.

[Kathie]

Many thanks annieb and terrier for your replies--I have 'Googled' the webpage you gave me--found it most helpful. I will use Method 1 for pruning the Hydrangeas. I had 'lopped off' quite a few branches already--there are a few flowers on the bushes at the moment but will now wait till the end of July to do the rest of them when the flowers start to fade just as you suggest, annieb.
Thanks once again--Kathie

[Kathie]

Many thanks annieb and terrier for your replies--I have 'Googled' the webpage you gave me--found it most helpful. I will use Method 1 for pruning the Hydrangeas. I had 'lopped off' quite a few branches already--there are a few flowers on the bushes at the moment but will now wait till the end of July to do the rest of them when the flowers fade as you suggest annieb.-
Thanks once again--Kathie