Hydrangeas are cherished for their stunning blooms, which appear in a variety of shades including white, pink, and numerous other hues.
They’re remarkably straightforward to maintain, as long as they receive proper care, which includes trimming.
Autumn trimming proves essential for numerous plants, hydrangeas included, as it assists in preserving their dimensions and form.
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The objective is to eliminate dead, diseased, and damaged stems whilst enhancing the plant or shrub’s overall appearance.
Nevertheless, according to one specialist, trimming at the “wrong” time of year can lead to a plant that fails to bloom.
Paul Parker, gardening specialist at plants and perennials experts, J. Parker’s, explained: “When to prune hydrangeas largely depends on the type of hydrangea you have in your garden.
“If you aren’t sure what type is growing in your garden, I advise you to wait for them to flower in summer and prune them the following year.”
The specialist noted that shrubby hydrangeas ought to be trimmed during late winter or early spring.
This is due to the flower heads providing protection from frost for emerging buds, reports the Express.
Paul continued: “Popular shrubby hydrangea varieties include mophead hydrangea, like the Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, and shrubby lacecap hydrangea (the serrata and aspera types).
“The popular Macrophylla Hydrangeas fall into both of these, so it’s important to do your research first. However, pruning advice may differ slightly between varieties, so it is always best to check.”
When tackling a shrubby hydrangea, eliminate any dead, diseased, damaged or crossing stems. For mature plants, you can slice back one or two aged stems right down to ground level to stimulate fresh growth.
Hydrangea paniculata requires a slightly different approach, according to the expert, if this particular variety graces your garden.
Paul explained: “It is only essential to cut off any dead wood in spring; however, you’ll notice an abundance of new, healthy blooms when you do an annual hard prune.
“For more flowers each spring, you can prune these hydrangeas to the lowest pair of healthy buds, creating a more compact but flowery look.”
Climbing hydrangeas develop at a leisurely pace, meaning you won’t require pruning for the initial two to three years following planting.
When they eventually require attention, trim any wayward shoots, cutting back to a lower pair of robust, vigorous buds.
The gardening expert observed: “Try to avoid pruning too much off the top of the plant, as this is where most of the flowers will appear.”
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