Hydrangeas are a popular choice for gardens of all types, and for good reason – they’re tough, beautiful, and can even withstand winter’s harshest weatherAngela Patrone Senior Lifestyle Reporter, Sam Dimmer East Midlands Head of Brand and Amrita Carroll
07:25, 29 Oct 2025
Hydrangeas will grow healthier and bigger if you do simple 5-minute gardening task now(Image: Getty)
Hydrangeas remain a favourite choice for gardens of every type, enduring even the harshest winter conditions, yet homeowners ought to be aware of one straightforward technique to guarantee magnificent blooms when spring arrives.
Whilst spring may seem distant with temperatures dropping, now is precisely the right time to begin preparing your garden for a stunning showcase of abundant hydrangea flowers in the coming season.
Horticultural experts from Millcreek Gardens have disclosed that deadheading, which involves removing faded blooms from your hydrangeas as they start to wilt and turn brown, is crucial for encouraging future flowering.
The gardening specialists said: “When you deadhead hydrangeas, you aren’t harming the plants at all.
“Removing the spent blooms triggers flowering shrubs to stop producing seeds and instead put their energy toward root and foliage development.”
They continued: “This makes plants stronger, bigger and healthier, so by deadheading, you’ll be doing your hydrangeas a favour.”, reports target=”_self”>the Irish Star.
For the best outcomes, keep deadheading your hydrangeas throughout their complete growing season and into early autumn, but ensure you cease before the first frost arrives.
Autumn deadheading not only tidies up the plant but also helps it conserve energy. However, it’s essential to cease this routine well before frosty conditions set in to prevent placing undue stress on the plant.
The gardening expert advised: “Stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in late [autumn], leaving any spent blooms in place. This not only provides winter interest but also ensures you don’t remove the buds that will become flowers next spring.”
As temperatures start to fall, committed gardeners ought to monitor for the season’s first frost to correctly time their hydrangea care, ceasing deadheading activities roughly one month prior.
Persisting past the frost deadline with cutting implements could leave fresh growth vulnerable to freezing nights, potentially damaging next year’s blooming potential.
The experts explained: “Deadheading is an easy gardening task, one many people enjoy. All you need to deadhead hydrangeas is a pair of garden gloves, pruners and a container to hold the faded flowers.”
Equipment readiness comes first, suggesting disinfection of cutting tools with an alcohol-soaked cloth to prevent fungal issues and ensure clean, sharp cuts.
Target blooms that have deteriorated, showing signs of drooping and brown discolouration, then snip them just above a set of vigorous leaves to promote subsequent growth.
Keep a sanitiser-dampened cloth close at hand for frequent blade cleansing.
To deadhead your hydrangeas, find each wilted bloom and follow its stem down to the next set of large leaves; this is where you should make your cut.
It’s important to clear away any fallen leaves from the ground as they can draw in pests and release an excess of nitrogen into the soil, which could over-nourish plants.
The task of deadheading shouldn’t take more than five minutes, but this simple act of removing fading growth will encourage larger, healthier, and more abundant blooms come next spring.
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