I agree - patience and no pruning as this kind flowers on last year's wood. Just pinch off the dead flower heads next spring when they'll have done their job of protecting the new flower buds from the frosts. As yours gets bigger it will need some space and some judicious pruning to maintain shape and vigour but that's just a case of removing any dead or broken stems and maybe thinning one a few each year to promote fresh growth and vigour.
The picture below shows plants like yours which are tucked right up against a north facing wall and have not been pruned or fed for 3 years and are covered in flowers.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Thanks for the lovely pic. seeing yours there has put my mind at rest and no, I won't be touching it all apart from to remove flowers next year. I feel better now
Bit confused now ..... so many posts and I don't know who is answering my original post .... mine HAS flowered (the one I'm asking about) - I think someone - Ladybird said I should leave as is and trim in Spring .... it's not particularly squashed, have just moved the plants closer together now its getting cooler, they seem to prefer that in winter.
As to the other hydrangea, it is in a raised bed but I suspect it has something to do with me cutting back when I shouldn't have - cant get my head round this 'old wood' thing - what is that??
So, Ladybird, in spring I will be chasing you for instructions on HOW to trim .... seriously lol, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing half the time.
You have a mophead or lace cap hydrangea which flowers on old wood which just means onstems made the previous year so, to maintain flowering, you just pinch out the spent flowers in spring without damaging the buds behind. If you need to trim its size, you do this by shortening stems as soon as the flowers finish so the shrub has time to produce new growth with flower buds. It's often advised to do this by taking just a third of the stems back each year in rotation so you maintain size, vigour and flowering.
Obelixx - thank you so much for that detailed info which I've printed out, I'm sure given my utter incompetence it will take a few readings to sink in. I'm going to look at the link you sent, if I see the name of the plant I will recognise it ... I'm sure it had 'red' in the name and something like 'macrophylia' though have probably got the spelling wrong.
I love this place so much - everyone is so helpful and willing to advise even though I ask question after question. I don't want to appear lazy though, I DO try research stuff myself but on a lot of sites I find that you have to have more than a very basic knowledge and I struggle to understand some terms that are used. I am 53 and have discovered the absolute JOY in gardening .... it seems to have become more important to me since my mum died in February - everything I grow I tell mum it's for her
Posts
Actually. This is a better one!
Hahaha lol!!! That made me giggle Verdun
I agree - patience and no pruning as this kind flowers on last year's wood. Just pinch off the dead flower heads next spring when they'll have done their job of protecting the new flower buds from the frosts. As yours gets bigger it will need some space and some judicious pruning to maintain shape and vigour but that's just a case of removing any dead or broken stems and maybe thinning one a few each year to promote fresh growth and vigour.
The picture below shows plants like yours which are tucked right up against a north facing wall and have not been pruned or fed for 3 years and are covered in flowers.
Hi Obelixx,
The building on your photo looks typically French to me. Is that the case?
Hi Obelixx
Thanks for the lovely pic. seeing yours there has put my mind at rest and no, I won't be touching it all apart from to remove flowers next year. I feel better now
Yes Papi Joe. It's a ruin in our new garden. Moving at the end of next week.
Bit confused now ..... so many posts and I don't know who is answering my original post .... mine HAS flowered (the one I'm asking about) - I think someone - Ladybird said I should leave as is and trim in Spring .... it's not particularly squashed, have just moved the plants closer together now its getting cooler, they seem to prefer that in winter.
As to the other hydrangea, it is in a raised bed but I suspect it has something to do with me cutting back when I shouldn't have - cant get my head round this 'old wood' thing - what is that??
So, Ladybird, in spring I will be chasing you for instructions on HOW to trim .... seriously lol, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing half the time.
Renata
xx
You have a mophead or lace cap hydrangea which flowers on old wood which just means onstems made the previous year so, to maintain flowering, you just pinch out the spent flowers in spring without damaging the buds behind. If you need to trim its size, you do this by shortening stems as soon as the flowers finish so the shrub has time to produce new growth with flower buds. It's often advised to do this by taking just a third of the stems back each year in rotation so you maintain size, vigour and flowering.
If in doubt, you can always check out the RHS site for info and advice https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=516
Obelixx - thank you so much for that detailed info which I've printed out, I'm sure given my utter incompetence it will take a few readings to sink in. I'm going to look at the link you sent, if I see the name of the plant I will recognise it ... I'm sure it had 'red' in the name and something like 'macrophylia' though have probably got the spelling wrong.
I love this place so much - everyone is so helpful and willing to advise even though I ask question after question. I don't want to appear lazy though, I DO try research stuff myself but on a lot of sites I find that you have to have more than a very basic knowledge and I struggle to understand some terms that are used. I am 53 and have discovered the absolute JOY in gardening .... it seems to have become more important to me since my mum died in February - everything I grow I tell mum it's for her
Many thanks to you both ...
Renata
xxx