Hydrangea care / pruning

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by NorthantsGeezer, Feb 15, 2015.

  1. NorthantsGeezer

    NorthantsGeezer Total Gardener

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    Hello everyone, tis I ..... Geezer!

    I have been wondering about hydrangea care, and if I should prune, dead head, or simply leave alone? Also, when?
    Do I simply cut off the heads with cutters?

    Any advice appreciated as always :blue thumb: Mine is in a pot.
     
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    • pamsdish

      pamsdish Total Gardener

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      Hi, mine are showing signs of growth but I usually wait until March/April. then take off last years flower which have protected through the winter, and look at the shape, if it needs any pruning take off to just above an outward facing growth point.
       
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      • NorthantsGeezer

        NorthantsGeezer Total Gardener

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        Cheers m'duck :blue thumb:
         
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        • NorthantsGeezer

          NorthantsGeezer Total Gardener

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          I have just had a look, and mine is looking good too :blue thumb: Lots of growth apparent.
          I think I have a climbing one too?? and that is also looking healthy :)
           
        • redstar

          redstar Total Gardener

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          Hydranges. there are THREE major types. And each type prunes different. So you have to know which type you have. And only one of the types are effected by PH soil to change their color. I happen to have 13 varieties, so several within each three types. Some I will never prune, except if I wish to shape it some. Some you can cut down to a foot off the ground, and they love it. Mine are all in ground. So you need to know what yours is.
           
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          • Dips

            Dips Total Gardener

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            I wait till march april too

            i have the mop head kind in the front and i just wait till then to take off the old flower heads down to the first point of growth

            then once thats done if there are any dead bits with no growth on i just trim them out

            the hydrangeas out the front are very old and were never really pruned or looked after before so there was loads of dead growth that you could snap off.
             
          • honeybunny

            honeybunny Head Gardener

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            I have a couple of mop-heads and a lace-cap in pots, Just like you guys each spring I snip off the old flowerheads being careful not to damage the buds underneath them (these will become the new flowers) but when we had a big one in the ground I would also have a little rummage around in there and cut out any weak or spindly looking branches near ground level to encourage new shoots near the base :)
             
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