Pruned our big one like that last year, February is supposed to be the correct time. Did not flower though.

Thanks for that Owdboggy. Perhaps I'll just take the dead flowers off and be more severe next spring.

They do flower on new wood, that is growth produced in the current season. So pruning early should promote new growth and so they ought to flower. Perhaps a good high nitrogen feed after pruning might help?

It is my contention that the arborescens can be heavily pruned in the spring without the loss of flowers. The common mopheads and lacecaps would need to be pruned in around August time to provide flowers for the next year. At this time of year, I would just lightly prune and then if you want to, prune more heavily next early spring. I personally, wouldn't feed with nitrogen, but make sure that it gets regular potash. Assuming that you are growing the common Annabelle and not the newer Strong Annabelle then too much nitrogen will encourage even more 'whippier' stems which wont be able to hold the flowers.

Good question and one I need an answer for as well. Jimmy how would I know if mine is the newer strong version as my one has huge heads which can weigh the stems down till they touch the ground.

I would say that you have the original variety. The fact that the original Annabelle wasn't able to support the flower heads was the reason the Strong Annabelle was bred. If you are interested in hydrangeas, then for something different, have a look at Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky'.

Last count we had 12 paniculata types. No labels now though. Red Annabelle is a good one which holds the flowers up well.
Sorry I did mean Potash not Nitrogen. Brain overheating!

thank you Jimmy, I am a great fan of Hydrangeas and I have H. paniculata Pinky Winky. I think I did a blog extolling the virtues of hydrangeas. I will have to check that out.

this is fantastic thanks. I will cut the top 1/4 off and then the side shoots may well flower and then give it a better prune later. They were given a top dressing of compost [home made] in early April.

I have the old Annabel and compromise with pruning - cut off thinner stems to try to produce a more robust framework. It seems to be working well and it does still flower - still top heavy but not collapsing to the ground as it did to start with.

Steragram that makes sense. I will try that.