Hydrangeas are hard-working shrubs in the garden, producing loads of flowers without much maintenance. But improper maintenance can ruin an entire season of blooms.
Gardeners are being warned that the way they tend to their hydrangea bushes this autumn could significantly affect the plants’ health and blooming potential next year.
As the days grow shorter, it’s crucial to prepare hydrangeas for the impending chill.
These stunning perennial shrubs are often misunderstood, particularly regarding early autumn care and pruning.
Jessica Walliser, a horticultural expert and author of seven acclaimed gardening books, has advised against a specific autumn gardening practice on Savvy Gardening, which could result in a lack of blooms.
She emphasised that regardless of the hydrangea variety, “no need to do any pruning” during the autumn season.
Jessica explained: “Whether you are growing gorgeous panicle hydrangeas like these or classic mophead hydrangeas, pruning should never be done in autumn.”
It’s important to note that hydrangeas fall into two categories – those that bloom on old wood and those that bloom on new wood.
Summer is the time to prune varieties that flower on old wood, while spring is suitable for those that bloom on new wood.
The gardening guru cautioned that “pruning in the autumn could remove flower buds for next year” resulting in them growing “flowerless”.
Also, incorrect timing of pruning can lead to “reduced blooms or even no blooms at all” the following year.
Many gardeners mistakenly trim what they perceive as dead stems in autumn, however, this could leave the plant more susceptible to winter damage and result in fewer flowers.
Jessica cautioned: “You could even be pruning off next year’s dormant flower buds. In short, do not prune hydrangeas in autumn.”
While it’s optional for gardeners to deadhead their hydrangeas during autumn, it’s not essential.
Deadheading involves removing withered or expired flowers to maintain an appealing appearance and promote further blooming.
However, as pointed out by the expert, snipping off dead hydrangea blooms at this time of year “will not impact the quality or size of the flowers” in the next growth season.
Ultimately, the decision to deadhead hydrangeas boils down to personal preference, and for those keen on a neat garden, then deadheading could be considered a worthy task.
