Gardeners may feel they have less to do now that autumn is here, but how you care for hydrangeas now will impact how healthy they will be next year, and even if they flower at all.
It may seem obvious that hydrangea bushes need to be pruned before winter to help them save energy, but it actually makes the plant more vulnerable to the cold.
Christine Covino, a gardening expert, has shared cutting hydrangeas now will destroy their flowering cycle and result in a flowerless weak plant next year.
She said: “If you heavily prune your hydrangea, you risk removing the flowers for next year since many hydrangeas set their buds in the fall on old wood.
“There are some cases that call for a heavy prune, but that would usually take place in the spring and I highly recommend consulting with a professional before doing something drastic.”
Why should you not prune hydrangeas in autumn?
Christine revealed that two major types of hydrangeas usually need to be pruned at different times of the year to get the best results.
Old wood hydrangeas such as bigleafs, oakleafs or mopheads form their flowers in late summer on already established stems and pruning this plant now will cut off the buds so there will be no blooms next year.
New wood hydrangeas such as annabelles or peegees form their flower buds later on new growth so have no blooms on them at the moment, but pruning them now is likely to expose the fresh cuts to winter damage.
Freshly pruned hydrangea stems are more vulnerable to frost, disease and even pests meaning the plant is unlikely to survive winter or be extremely vulnerable in spring.
Christine said: “My fool-proof recommendation, at least as a beginner hydrangea caretaker, is not to prune.
“All I do to my hydrangeas (they are all in the macrophylla/Endless Summer family) is a quick deadhead in the [autumn]. To prune the hydrangeas, just snip off spent blooms right below the flower head. That’s it.”
How to deadhead and prepare hydrangeas in autumn
The large flowers on hydrangeas can become extremely heavy in rain or snow which can cause the branches to break under the weight, so it is important to remove them.
All you need to do is pull off the faded, wilted or dried-up flowers on hydrangeas as it helps direct more energy into strengthening the roots for winter rather than on the dying flowers.
However, if you have an established hydrangea then you can also take off any old unruly canes, but you do not need to do this.
Christine said: “If you have a very old hydrangea, you can remove entire canes in order to keep them under control and looking fresh.
“If you do not do this, your older hydrangeas will be okay, they’ll just produce smaller blooms. So, remove a few of the oldest canes at the soil line to get the biggest, billowiest blooms.”
There is no need to prune or do any major care for hydrangeas but after lightly deadheading them, it is best to mulch them as it helps smother weeds during the colder months and regulates the temperature around the plant.
Christine said: “I like to add a layer of compost around the base of the plant for a slow release of nutrients. Then, I top that off with a thicker layer of mulch to retain moisture, prevent weeds, and add a layer of protection from the cooler winter weather.
“So, no need to stress over pruning! Don’t be intimidated and have confidence that with just a little care, your hydrangeas will bring you years and years of those lovely, old-fashioned blooms.”
