Hydrangeas are adored for their big and bold clusters of flowers in a wide range of colours – from white to sweet pink to electric blue – and now gardeners know when is the best time to prune them
Hydrangeas are the go-to blooms for many garden enthusiasts and interior decorators alike – loved for their large, eye-catching flower heads that range in vibrant colours from pearly white through delicate pink to a bright electric blue.
What’s even more fascinating is their ability to shift shades as they age during the late summer months. But achieving those lush, full blossoms means giving these plants the TLC they deserve.
A befuddled gardener, unsure about the optimal time to prune their precious hydrangea, sought wisdom from the knowledgeable folks of the ‘Hydrangeas in the UK’ Facebook group.
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Mike Stevens posed the question: “When is the best time to prune hydrangeas [in the] UK?” The response was overwhelming yet consistent.
Fellow plant lovers were quick to advise Mike to hold off until the threat of frost had receded and glimpses of a warmer climate began to emerge. Sharon Moulton advised, “Not yet. Wait til frost is over those deadheads are protecting your plant.”
Echoing that sentiment, Joyce Jolly instructed: “Not yet, wait till frost is over then cut off the old flower heads. You will see this year’s new leaves just below.”
Offering a slightly more specific timeframe, Carl Bavin suggested: “Around mid-April/early May when any fear of frost has passed.”
Meanwhile, Claire Foster recommended a different approach, stating, “Mid-March is the best time to do it. I had an insane amount of flowers on all my hydrangeas last year.”
She warned, however: “But the year before I trimmed too soon in mild weather then we got very icy weather and two bushes didn’t flower at all.”
Brian Hearn advised: “Prune after the frosts have passed. Cut down to just above a double bud if you can and it will give you more flowers.”
Palmers Garden Centre’s experts share a similar view, recommending that hydrangeas be pruned in early spring: “Early spring is often an ideal time for pruning.”
This is because “Late frosts tend to damage any new buds that come through after pruning.” The experts warned that “If you prune hydrangeas too early you may promote new growth so holding off a bit is the best thing to do.”