Cutting Blooms

[Ystoker]

I have nursed my Hydrangea for 3 years and this year we have brilliant, HUGE flowers for the first time. Can I cut them? I know that you can dry Hydrangea heads but I do not know when it is safe to cut them and if you can at all

Thanks!

[The Helpful Gardener]

Sure you can cut them, but don't expect more flowers. These buds were set last year, and will not return if you 1) prune anything other than cutting the bloom or 2) let the buds frost off this winter.

I like 'Endless Summer' as it doesn't have any limitations like that; talked to a cohort in Virginia yesterday who said he'd been cutting bouquets off his for two minths already with no end in sight! Can't do that with most hydrangeas!