How to prune hydrangeas – general notes

As a general rule hydrangeas flower at the end of growth produced in the same season although Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) flower on the previous years’ growth.

In the autumn it is traditional to leave the dead flower heads on the hydrangea and leave the pruning to the following spring. The old dead heads being left on the plant provide some protection from hard frosts in the winter.

Wait until the hydrangeas buds start to break in the spring that’s the time to prune them back. Hydrangeas do not do well if they are pruned back to hard so prune them back by only a third in one season. As this stage you could also remove the dead or diseased stems.

Feeding in the winter with Growmore fertilizer in the autumn and then in the spring feed with liquid tomato feed will help produce more flowers in the late summer.