The hydrangea, who doesn't have this plant in the garden or on the patio or balcony? The hydrangea is a popular shrub because of the beautiful and large flowers that you can enjoy for a longer period of time. In this blog we explain the best way to prune the common hydrangea.
Pruning the Common Hydrangea
The best time to prune a common hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is spring, once all chance of frost has passed. Common hydrangea is pretty hardy but it can get some frost damage in very severe winters. In spring, you can cut any frost damaged branches right back to the living wood.
Common hydrangeas flower on the previous year’s growth (so not branches grown this year). Regular pruning of hydrangeas ensure nice and abundant flowering. Most pruning should take place in late winter/early spring but the climbing hydrangea should be pruned after summer.
How to prune the hydrangea?
If a common hydrangea gets too big, you might need to cut it back fairly drastically. This means pruning the entire common hydrangea’s branches right back to 30-50 cm height. New branches will then grow on your shrub throughout the year.
The newest varieties of common hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) flower on both old and new wood. After a winter pruning, the bush will grow new branches that will flower that same year. Common hydrangeas are all labelled individually to indicate exactly which you have – one that flowers on old wood, or a common hydrangea that flowers on new wood.
How to rejuvenate the hydrangea
It’s even possible to rejuvenate common hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) that have been in the garden for years – you can do this over a period of 3 years and then it will be completed rejuvenated. Here’s what to do - Every year, cut back 1/3 of all the branches to 30-50 cm. The following year, do another different 1/3 of your hydrangea branches, and so on.
Pruning smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens Smooth hydrangea (hydrangea arborescens) flowers on this year’s wood. The buds grow again every spring so you need to prune a hydrangea arborescens (the smooth hyd...
Pruning climbing hydrangea
Hydrangea anomala A climbing hydrangea (hydrangea anomala) flowers on old wood. That is to say, flowers will only grow on branches formed in the previous year. This means that if you ...
How and when to prune the Japanese maple?
The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is the smaller version of maple (Acer). Its small size makes it a popular plant for the garden. It even fits in a nice pot in the garden or o...
Pruning roses: How and when?
There are many types of roses, all of which need to be pruned in different ways and at different times. In this blog, we explain exactly how and when to prune each rose. The c...
Pruning fruit trees: when and how?
Fruit trees in the garden? Then you have to prune it every year to enjoy a good harvest. Indispensable pruning tools Secateurs. As fruit trees are prone to diseas...
Pruning trees and shrubs
Trees S...
Pruning Hydrangea
Pruning hydrangea encourages flowering and helps to keep the shrub looking healthy. Only prune after all chance of frost has passed. There are of course various types of hydrangea...
Pruning Amelanchier
The little Amelanchier provides colourful enjoyment the whole year round. Amelanchier come in the form of either a shrub or a small tree. It has a wonderful natural shape and it contin...