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Hydrangea to dead head or not to

victoria_cowleyvictoria_cowley Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello all,
Does anyone deadhead their hydrangeas during the summer? I know you are to leave the flower head on during winter to protect the leaves but can I neaten up the appearance of mine now?
(It is a shrub variety)
Thanks in advance ☺

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited June 2021
    I'd do it. They've done their job.😊
    Edit  I thought you meant last year's flowers until I read @Fairygirl s post.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you mean it's already flowered? If so, it's one of the 'forced' ones produced for the Easter market, so you can safely remove spent flowers. In future, it'll flower at the normal time in summer  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • victoria_cowleyvictoria_cowley Posts: 6
    Fairygirl said:
    Do you mean it's already flowered? If so, it's one of the 'forced' ones produced for the Easter market, so you can safely remove spent flowers. In future, it'll flower at the normal time in summer  :)
    Yes its already got a fair few flowers on theat have been and gone this year. I had no idea about "forced" ones until a few weeks ago!! Thanks for your advice! I'll get to getting rid of the spent ones 😊
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll continue to grow more foliage/stems and get plenty of time for next year's flowering.  :)
    It's a common practice unfortunately, and we get loads of queries about it every year on the forum. I expect many of these hydrangeas don't survive, because they look great in small pots for that short spell, so they get kept there [often indoors]  and then dry out. Many people don't realise they're actually big, outdoor shrubs that need putting in the ground, and I don't think there's enough info with them either regarding that. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    True @Fairygirl but some new varieties are specifically produced to suit potting. They are much smaller and only grow to 60 or 70cm. Of course they need a lot more care in a pot.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - but many of the ones sold for that market aren't. 
    Even ones which don't get so big need a bigger pot than the ones they get sold in, in order to thrive , and there often isn't adequate info for purchasers, which, as you say, is the problem because extra care is needed.
    It's a shame, but another example of our disposable society.  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    @Fairygirl don't get me started on nursery pot sizes, they insist on selling according to pot size and not plant size yet some are over potted and some are definitely under potted. In case of hydrangeas that grow really fast they need potting up by way more than one pot size. I suppose if every plant sold, thrived, there would be a massive downturn of overall annual sales.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - it's a marketing ploy. No different to them pushing chocolate eggs for Easter or red roses for Valentine's Day. 
    What's sad is that I feel it could put some people off trying to grow plants, if something they buy fails. It isn't always the fault of the purchaser. At least forums like this exist and people can get some help  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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