Hydrangeas, beloved for their vibrant blooms, require careful attention when it comes to pruning. According to experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the most popular varieties in the UK are lacecaps and mopheads.
Mophead hydrangeas are easily recognized by their large, rounded clusters of petals, while lacecaps feature a unique arrangement of small flowers in the center surrounded by larger petals. Timing is key to maintaining healthy hydrangeas, and pruning at the wrong time can jeopardize the following season’s blossoms.
For most hydrangeas, pruning is best done in late winter or early spring. However, climbing hydrangeas have a different schedule—these should be pruned after their summer flowering. Experts emphasize the importance of pruning hydrangeas at the correct time of year to avoid cutting off next year’s flower buds prematurely.
In areas with milder winters, the flowers of mophead hydrangeas can be trimmed once their color fades. However, it is recommended to leave the blooms intact throughout winter. This not only preserves the aesthetic but also provides some protection against frost for the tender buds beneath. In early spring, gardeners should remove the dead flowerheads, cutting back the stem to the first healthy pair of buds below the faded bloom.
Lacecaps, which are more resilient, can be pruned shortly after flowering. Experts advise cutting the faded flowerheads to the second pair of leaves below the bloom to prevent seed development, which drains the plant’s energy.
For well-established hydrangeas, it's beneficial to prune one or two of the oldest stems at ground level to encourage the growth of new stems, which will yield more flowers. Overgrown plants can be entirely renovated by cutting all stems back to the base, though gardeners should be aware that this will result in no flowers that summer—new growth will not bloom until the following year.
If frost damage occurs in spring, the affected shoots should be pruned back to just above the first undamaged pair of buds on healthy wood. Additionally, any weak or straggly stems should be removed to promote overall plant health.
January is also an ideal time to prune other plants, such as roses, fruit bushes, and wisteria.
