anyone know what to do with hydrangea during the winter? They look like hell.

[rhett o rick]

Do you prune off the old flowers remnants?

[BOSSHOG]

1. DON'T PRUNE THEM NOW!!!!

Yeah, Hydrangeas do look like hell during the winter months but pruning should be done after the plant stops blooming in the fall, because the flowers are set at that time. If you pruned them now you'd have no blooms later in the year.

[rhett o rick]

2. Thank you. nm

[plantwomyn]

3. Depends on the variety.

Mophead/laceleaf or macrophylla should be pruned in late summer. They flower on old existing wood. This includes oakleafs. Once they leaf out in the summer you can prune them of old, broken or crossing branches. It's good for the plant. Once they flower you can deadhead the flowers. Many use them for dried arrangements, they dry well.
Paniculata flower from new wood and can be cut almost to the ground any time after frost. The stems should break easily and at this time of year will break to the ground.