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hydrangea serrata bluebird and similar.

David374David374 Posts: 11
in Problem solving
The flowering stems are around 2ft in length with decent flowers at the end but very spindly branches and bare looking.It is a three year old, so smallish plant. Should I now sacrifice some or all flowers and cut back the stems to nearer the base to make a neater shrubbier shrub, please? I presume there is time to get new growth now for next year .

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @David374 , is it in a big enough pot or even better in the ground, if you don’t like it as it is, you may as well sacrifice those flowers as they will take all the plants strenth, cut  it back to a bud low down, keep it well watered , it will shoot out then next year you can just trim off the tops

    I had some very tall ones last year, we cut then right down to the ground, the leaves are huge now, and although we only have a few flower buds so far, I know next year with light pruning in April, it will be fantastic, so ...go for it would be my advise. 
    I can show you photos if you want to see. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Make sure you keep some leaves on, though. To power the plant.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I don’t Fire, off to the ground. Shrubs will grow again. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Ok. At this time of year?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    edited July 2018
    Yes, if is bare and needs it,  I do what I need to do whenever I feel it needs it. 

    If you have bare stems you havent got leaves to leave on. 
    I would’nt do it with perenial herbaceous but shrubs, yes. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Good to know.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Sawed this one right down to the ground last summer. Only a few flowers but ok next year. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Lyn said:

    I would’nt do it with perenial herbaceous but shrubs, yes. 
    Why ever did I say that? Of course I cut perenials right down, just chopped all the leaves off Aquilegias and primula.  Must be an age thing🤔😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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