Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Lace Cap Hydrangea

Can i ask the gardening experts for help?

I think I am  right in saying that it is okay to prune the finished flower heads now.  My question is, is it okay to hard prune the stems? The whole of the shrub has grown to an enormous size, much too big for the plot.  If I do prune, would I lose next year's flowers?

Last edited: 06 November 2017 16:43:00

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700

    There are a few options for you. If you hard prune now or early spring, then you are not likely to have flowers for next year. Or you could just prune right back a third to half of weak or tired stems and then the remain stems cut back to the first strong healthy set of buds from the faded mophead. That way, you will get to renovate your shrub whilst still enjoy flowers next year. It's not a good idea to start now as having the blooms in place protects your shrub, but if it is very weighted down, just cut a few of the flower heads off, but not the stems. It's usually the flower heads that weighs the stems down.

    Last edited: 06 November 2017 18:28:51

  • ValaryValary Posts: 16

    Thank you Borderline.  I will follow your suggestion.  I would be so sad to have no blooms next summer. 

    Last edited: 06 November 2017 19:36:52

Sign In or Register to comment.