It’s no secret that I love hydrangeas! When I started my blog, I knew what my page name was going to be right away! We have planted hydrangeas all over our gardens, and of course they wrap all the way around our porch. I am certainly no expert, but I am going to share a few tips and tricks I have learned over the years that work for me. (for this post, I am talking about Annabelle, Incrediball, and Limelight varieties)
The Annabelle and Incrediball hydrangeas that surround our porch were planted seven years ago. We have never cut them back, except one time. (we were told by a well meaning couple to do this) The next year, they didn’t fill out as nice, and we were disappointed. I’m thinking if you want to keep your shrubs in check, and if you have a smaller space, it would be wise to prune them back. Here, they have lots of room to spread. In the next year or two we will have to prune some of them a bit, or we won’t have a walkway anymore..haha.
you can see the new growth on the old wood
They grow on new and old wood..so if you cut them way back, you will have a smaller plant. (remember, no expert here!)
When the blooms are nice and white, and every little flower on them has opened right up, you can snip them for a vase. If you snip them before the flower has completely opened up, they will wilt like crazy, and won’t last long at all. I always take a jar filled with hot tap water with me when cutting. (I totally forget where I learned this trick….I think it was off a decorating show on TV years ago)
I always have a jar of hot water ready 
Cut your stems on an angle
I always cut the stems on an angle. These flowers LOVE water, so the more surface area on the stem for water to absorb, the better! I remove all of the leaves, and pop them in the jar right away. When you take them inside to arrange them in a vase, you can cut them again to fit, just remember to use hot water in your vase and angle the stem again.
you can see the greenish flowers, already starting to dry on the shrub! 
all gathered 
all gathered and ready to be taken into the house
I love to dry them. They are perfect for decor all year round, in a vase, piled in a basket or bowl. You can also make a wreath with them! Once the flowers turn that beautiful greenish colour, they are easy to dry.
(Limelights will turn a greenish, pinkish colour) The flowers also feel dry to touch, so if they don’t feel dry on the shrub, they won’t dry off the shrub.
Fresh picked hydrangeas when they are in full flower (these won’t dry) 
Drying hydrangeas (note the greenish colour)
I always gather them the same way….cut them on an angle…pop them in a jar of hot water…done! I bring them in the house and leave them right in the jar or vase…. the water evaporates over time…you will be left with dried hydrangeas!!!!
I hope you have found these tips helpful! I will be drying my Limelight hydrangeas in the next month or so, and will share how I make an easy wreath! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Hydrangeas are my favourite flowers as well. ‘Dart’ makes a wonderful addition to your decor! ❤️. Thanks for the tips. Mom xoxoxoxoxo.
I always have my furry garden helpers with me xoxoxo
Your hydrangeas are so beautiful. Have you ever made a hydrangea wreath?
Thank you Jill! Yes I have! I plan on making another one and will share the step by step! 💗💗 thanks for stopping by!
These tips are all so good! I love hydrangeas so much too!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!!!
~Emily
Thank you for stopping by sweet Emily xoxo
Thanks for sharing. I will certainly try this.
Thank you Marg 😘💗
Our hydrangeas are being overtaken, strangled even, by morning glories. Any helpful hints getting rid of those pedky vines? Thank you.
Oh no!!!! I understand totally! I planted morning glories by our fence one year…well that was a mistake…we have since been trying to get rid of it. It ended up strangling many of our plants! My only suggestion is to manually pull all the muring glories. Try not to let them go to seed (that was a huge problem here) We have been pulling little seedlings out manually for the last 3 years!! They are slowly getting eradicated. They are resilient to week killer 😕 we’ve tried! Good luck!
Hi Tracey — just curious….if you are drying them, why do you want them in so much water? Is it to allow them to dry out slowly?
I forgot to say — WOW, your garden always always and always impresses me. I’m still aiming to a spot of tea on that very inviting porch!! Lois
Awe…Thank you!!! It’s something both Gerald and I love to do! And you are ALWAYS welcome!!!! I will put the kettle on! xoxo
Hi Lois. I have always done this…haha…if there is a lot of water, I take some out. And if I find they are really dry, I will dump the water out. It doesn’t seem to matter what I do, some end up kind on brownish in spots…but most dry quit nicely! Thanks for stopping by Lois! xo