A shrub with exuberant and spectacular blooms, the hydrangea is one of the best values in the garden. Over the years, it can lose its elegance or its vigor, so pruning will be necessary.
Hydrangea pruning in brief
Hydrangea pruning should be done at the end of winter in a rational way so as not to compromise the flowering which takes place on the previous year's shoots.
- Cut off the faded flowers above the first bud under the flower.
- Cut off dead and dry branches
- Cut the stunted stems and those that cross to aerate the center.
- Cut back very old stems to their base.
How to prune hydrangea?
There are several species of hydrangea, all of which are part of the Hydrangea genus.
The ball hydrangea sold in florists (Hydrangea macrophylla) is the most common one in gardens, which is the one we will deal with in this article.
This hydrangea blooms on the previous year's stems, so pruning should be light at the risk of not taking advantage of its beautiful bloom.
The pruning operation is done at the end of winter or at the very beginning of spring before the vegetation wakes up. At this time, the stems only have buds and remnants of last year's faded flowers. Start by removing these by pruning them just above the first bud present under the flower.
You will then have to give a nice aspect to the shrub, especially if it has not been pruned for a long time and that the branches form a dense vegetal jumble. To do this, cut off all the dead and dry branches with the secateurs. Take advantage of this to trim the weak stems at their base as well as those that cross each other in order to clear the center of the plant and thus provide it with better air and light penetration. This important step avoids the installation of parasites and limits the development of diseases.
As we have seen, it is not advisable to prune all the stems at the risk of not being able to enjoy the flowers during the summer. A selection must be made in order to ensure the renewal of the shoots, to give back vigor to the hydrangea while keeping a maximum of branches bearing flowers. If your hydrangea is an old subject, cut back the very old stems at their base. You will recognize them by their larger diameter and lighter color. Keep at least two thirds of the branches unpruned to enjoy a beautiful bloom.
Cutting back hydrangeas
Hydrangeas can be cut back on older plants that have lost their vigor and whose inflorescences become smaller each year. In this case, it is possible to sacrifice one year of flowering by cutting back all the stems to 20 cm from the ground. Again, prune just above an outward facing eye if possible to clear the center of the shrub. Scratch some compost at the foot of your hydrangea to help it start again.
