When and how to prune the hydrangeas to make them flourish every year

The hydrangeas give spectacular blooms, but incorrect pruning can compromise their beauty. Let’s see what is the right time and the correct method to guarantee lush bushes every year.

The hydrangea They are among the most loved plants for their abundant and scenic flowering. However, without a correct pruning, they risk producing few flowers or even not flourishing at all. The right time and the adequate technique make the difference between a luxuriant bush and an not very productive plant. Pruning is not only an aesthetic question, but also of health for the plant: it allows you to eliminate dry branches, stimulate growth and guarantee abundant flowering.

Not all hydrangeas are pruned in the same periodand it is important to know the behavior of your variety before intervening. In addition, cutting the right branches allows you to avoid common errors that could prevent their flowering for an entire season. To get the maximum result, you have to know when and how to prune the hydrangeas, following some simple rules. If performed at the correct moment and in the right way, pruning promotes healthy and harmonious growth. In this guide you will discover all the secrets to prune the hydrangeas in the best possible way.

Let’s find out when to prune the hydrangeas

Know When to prune the hydrangeas It is essential to avoid eliminating future buds and compromising flowering. Most hydrangeas bloom on the branches of the previous year, so an incorrect pruning could mean no flowers for an entire season.

For the Hydrangea macrophyllathe most common variety, the best time for pruning is At the end of wintergenerally in February. At this stage, the plant is still in vegetative rest, but is preparing for new growth. If you have hydrangeas from other varieties, the period may vary slightly, then carefully observe the branches and gems before cutting.

In some cases, the need for pruning is clearly manifests: the flowers become dry, the branches are woody and the plant appears disordered. Prune at the right time helps to stimulate healthy and vigorous growthavoiding that the plant becomes too bulky.

How to prune the hydrangeas correctly?

A correct pruning It is essential to keep the plant healthy and promote abundant blooms. However, you have to be careful not to cut too much, because the buds may not develop. What is the difference between low pruning and high pruning? There are two main types of pruning for hydrangeas, depending on the desired effect:

• Low pruning: It is more drastic and is performed to contain the size of the plant. It consists in cutting very short branches, promoting more orderly growth but with Less flowers.
• High pruning: it is less invasive and allows the plant to grow in height. Only the exhausted flowers and older branches are removed, leaving room for the new gems for abundant flowering.

If you want a plant lush and majesticopt per to high pruningwhile if you have a small garden and want to limit the dimensions, the low pruning It is the right choice.

But which branches should we cut? Not all branches must be pruned the same way. To keep the plant healthy, follow these indications:

• Cut i dry branches, sick or damagedbecause they will not produce flowers.
• Avoid cutting i Young branchesrecognizable because they are smooth and turgid, with buds already growing.
• I Very old and woody brancheswith bark that flakes, must be removed to encourage the renewal of the plant.
• Be a bouquet Two brancheseliminates the oldest and woody one, leaving the younger one to ensure a more vigorous flowering.

Select carefully the branches to be removed allows you to improve the structure of the plant and obtain A more harmonious and flowery bush.

Practical advice for effective pruning

A well -made pruning It is not only based on the cut, but also on some precautions that can make the difference. To get the most out of your hydrangeas, follow these suggestions:

• Always remove the dead stems before starting the actual pruning.
• Make the cuts on a pair of healthy gems To encourage the growth of new branches.
• Avoid pruning in autumnbecause you could stimulate the growth of new gems that would then be damaged by the cold.
• Use well sharp and disinfected pruning scissors to avoid infections to the plant.
• After pruning, it fertilizes the plant with a fertilizer rich in potassium to encourage abundant flowering.

Following these simple steps, your hydrangeas will always be strong, healthy and ready to give you spectacular blooms every year.

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