North Yorkshire,
United Kingdom 
Hi everyone. I am covered in confusion, and need some help. I have a selection of mop cap hydrangeas growing in decent sized pots. This year they have put on a beautiful show, and I am well proud of them.
My routine for maintaining them is, I leave the spent blooms on over winter to help keep off the frost, and then in spring I have always pruned the leggy stems down to about two sets of buds. But! several Gurus have said that if you are going to prune at all then it must be done before August the 1st, no later because according to them the plant has set its flowering buds and any pruning will result in no flowers the following season.
My plants started flowering early this year and I have had constant blooms and no period for reducing the height. suggestions from them are not to prune, just nip of the spent blooms, but this would mean my plants in the pot would be very leggy. Am I miss understanding what is required?
Your advice would be appreciated.
dennisthemenace
2 Oct, 2013
Answers
If it works for you, then why change it?
3 Oct, 2013
Leave the spent flower heads on over winter. Prune back in spring to first strong buds (from the flower end) and cut out any congested stems or cut a couple of stems hard back to encourage new growth.
Over time you will keep the growth in check by cutting back the longest leggiest stem.
2 Oct, 2013