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Hydrangea - am I too late...
Dave Humby
Posts: 1,145
in Plants
I'm very much a novice gardener but the last couple of winters I have left the previous years growth on my hydrangeas to give them some cover through the winter months before cutting them back.
I've just gone to do them for this year and have noticed quite an extensive display of buds on all plants so I guess a combination of the mild winter / recent weather and me leaving it too long has resulted in this.
My question is what should I do now? Just leave them to do their own thing or cut them back? If so to where - a pair of developed buds or to the ground.
Thanks!
0
Posts
Cut off the old flowers to just above a nice fat pair of new buds.
If it's an old plant, you might want to take out some , no more than 1/3 of the oldest stems to ground level. On younger plants, you don't have to do this.
A photo would help.
Dave, in SW Scotland, I leave the old flowers on until the end of February/beginning of March in case of frost.
Did mine last week in the South East
lots of big buds opening already because of the mild weather!
Photos as requested Hosta. More than just buds - leaves!
Yes Joyce I'm sure I left it later than this in the past. Just shows how mild it's been down here on the south coast I guess! Will have to keep an eye on them better next year.
Hard to say for sure from the photo, but it looks like you have some older stems crossing through the middle of the plant, try to remove these.
Also remove any really thin, weedy stems, like those overhanging the sleeper, to help open it up a bit.
Overall , I think it looks pretty healthy and happy.
Thanks Hosta. I have now given this one and another of similar sizes their relative 'haircuts'.