An expert has shared the best time for gardeners to start pruning their hydrangeas and the best way to go about it to avoid ruining the flower’s blooms the following year
As any hydrangea owner knows, pruning is a key task that needs to be completed to produce thriving blooms the following year – however it’s crucial to do so at the right time.
Hydrangeas are one of the best loved flowers in the UK. Not only do they add a bright burst of beauty with their pink, blue and purple buds, they’re also well-suited to the British climate. They typically bloom in either late spring or early summer and add much-needed life to any garden, while also being relatively low maintenance.
However, low maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance. To ensure a vibrant display of blooms the following year, hydrangeas should be pruned at a specific time.
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Pruning is incredibly important for hydrangeas for multiple reasons. For a start, overgrown hydrangeas risk becoming woody and dull-looking, which will take away from the appearance of your garden.
Plus, it also helps remove any stems which are diseased, damaged or dying, which in turn can lead to pests and spreading disease. It also helps to improve air circulation and light penetration by removing excess foliage, which will allow your plant to access more resources and develop more healthily.
Of course, knowing when to prune hydrangeas is just as crucial, otherwise you risk mitigating the benefits. Plus, for varieties that bloom on old wood, such as Bigleaf and Oakleaf, it’s important that you’re not removing next year’s blooms.
Mark Dwelly, head gardener at Audley Stanbridge Earls told Ideal Homes: “My top golden rule is to prune immediately after flowering in summer. This allows time for fresh shoots to develop and form buds for next year’s display.”
Therefore, you should avoid pruning these types of hydrangea in the autumn or the spring, or else you could be snipping away next year’s blooms.
Aside from potentially removing blooms, pruning in autumn can leave your flowers more susceptible to frost damage. Instead, it’s best to leave dried flowerheads on the plant in winter, as they can offer some protection from frost to the stems and buds underneath.
When it comes to pruning your hydrangeas, Ideal Homes advises to tread lightly, particularly when it comes to hydrangeas that flower on old wood. Instead, focus on cutting away stems that appear diseased, dying or damaged.
An extra tip that gardeners should follow is to make sure they’re cleaning their gardening tools in between pruning sessions to avoid spreading disease.