With heavy downpours the last wk bringing 10" of rain, the branches of 2 mopheads in bloom are almost bent to the ground. Should I cut them or will they bounce back once dried out?

6/27/13 - They have not bounced back when dried out and were cut.

I am sorry I have not looked in this forum. Depending on which ;type of Hydrangea you have by cutting the branches you may not get blooms next year. Some bloom on the prior year's branches.

If you prefer a more formal, orderly garden you may want to remove and purchase a bush that fits your garden style.

So much rain here too, the novelty of measuring it wore off days ago. We'd also measured 10" in just days.

It's your call about trimming now, but I'd rather look at leaning flowers than none. Instead of removing flowers, you could remove some of the heavier leaves towards the ends, and secondary branches that aren't blooming.

If you would like more Hydrangeas, put a rock or brick to hold the bent branches in contact with the soil. When they are rooted, and you have the time and a place for them to go, they're ready to separate from the mama.

When they are finished blooming, that's a great time to prune heavily. Shorter, stockier branches will be less likely to flop next year.

Thanks for your replies and I chose to trim. We ended up with 14" and 2 hail storms by 6/30 and the problem was the drooping branches were hanging over daylilies shading them too much.

These are the decisions a gardener must make. Good for you for making it suit your eye better. Glad you can say you "ended up." It's still raining here... several times a day... The grass, frogs, mushrooms and mosquitoes are diggin' it.