When it comes to the care and health of your flowering plants , there is one important step you need to know in their maintenance: how to prune them properly so they bloom again. Follow the best expert advice and learn how to prune dead hydrangeas from your garden .
Hydrangeas are known for their beautiful flowers and lush foliage, making them ideal for interior decoration. They’re also easy to grow and come in a wide range of hardy colors, from blue and white to pink and green.
They are mainly used as border plants in most gardens, as they bloom throughout the summer until early autumn. They reach a height of one and a half meters, although it should be noted that they are shade plants, so it is best to keep them in areas where they do not receive direct sunlight.
How to prune a hydrangea
But just as they are ideal for your green spaces, terraces and balconies , they also require some delicate care, including properly trimming their dead heads. This procedure must be carried out regularly as it is vital for their growth.
How to prune a hydrangea? Everything you need to know
According to gardening expert Lorraine Ballato, author of Success With Hydrangeas, A Gardener’s Guide, you should start by determining the right time to cut them back.
Ballato recommends early August, when the flower begins to fade and change color to soft shades of pink, lavender, and green . This is called the old season and is the ideal time to start pruning.
faded hydrangeas
The equipment needed to prune these plants is:
Hard and sharp pruning shears.
Gloves to prevent accidental cuts.
Protective glasses to prevent eye damage.
Special fertilizer for hydrangeas.
Steps to follow:
The first thing to do is to cut back the foliage of the hydrangea, especially if it has grown uncontrollably.
Next, identify the variety of your hydrangea. It can be old wood (shoots during the summer) or new wood (new shoots each spring).
Remove any old, already dried flowers. Use pruning shears and make cuts just below the heads and at the ends of the stems.
Remove the oldest stems (these produce the fewest flowers), then promote the new buds.
Cut them close to the ground.
Reduce the size of the hydrangea (immediately after flowering) by cutting the branches back by 1/3 at the nearest node.
Now that you know how to prune hydrangeas in your garden, keep in mind that the ideal pruning time would be around March (late winter or early spring). In fact, this can be done year-round except in summer.