The sight of withered hydrangea inflorescences evokes an irresistible desire to take scissors and relieve the bushes. This is correct, but in the case of these garden aristocrats, we must not do anything that we do not think thoroughly beforehand. We decide on a flood of flowers, or a sad look at a simple green plant.
It is spring that is a kind of magical time when it is decided whether we will see the awaited sight of beautifully blooming hydrangeas in the summer, or whether we will have to inadvertently give it up this year. It mostly depends on us and how we know our hydrangeas. It is necessary to first correctly identify which garden lady we have in front of us, and only then start to adjust it. It is much more important than it might seem at first glance.
In the following YouTube video, Chlouba Pavel advises how to cut hydrangeas correctly and with a perfect result:
Prune in spring, but properly
Growers of large-leaved hydrangeas most often make a big mistake. These bushes form flower buds already in the previous year, namely at the ends of last year’s branches. If we were to radically cut them down to the ground now in the spring, when it is generally the right time to prune, we would also cut off the future crop of flowers. For these species, it is therefore necessary to limit the cut to only the removal of dry inflorescences and dead and frost-damaged branch ends. The cut should be made just above the first pair of strong and healthy buds, which will remain on the plant. We will also proceed with the same caution with serrated or oak-leaved hydrangeas.
We just need to illuminate the bushes
The goal in these cases is to remove weak shoots and give enough space to the strongest ones, which already carry the promise of summer colorful fireworks in the form of huge balls of beautiful flowers.
Other hydrangeas – a different approach
Absolutely the opposite approach though they need hydrangea hydrangeas, which are more and more frequently established in our gardens due to their unpretentiousness and frost resistance. These species unlike from those described above, they bloom on new shoots that will only grow in the given season. We definitely don’t need to be afraid of scissors here – on the contrary: the bolder the intervention, the stronger stems and bigger flowers the plant will produce this year.
How deep to cut?
It is therefore ideal to leave only two to three pairs of buds above the ground on each branch, although this may seem like too drastic an intervention. it will ensure that the bush will not be unnecessarily bushy and thus also weak, but will be able to stretch all the available energy into several huge vines that will decorate the garden until the ripe autumn. If we do not prune these species consistently enough, the bush will grow, but the flowers will be smaller and smaller every year.
You can easily determine the right time
When is the best time to cut hydrangeas in spring? It is right now, at a time when there is no longer a threat of permanent frosts, but the bushes are not yet fully leafed. It is therefore more than important to keep a close eye on nature. As soon as the buds begin to rise slightly and pour, it is a starting shot that must not be missed. Already at that moment, we should have perfectly sharp and clean scissors ready at hand, so that the wounds are smooth and heal quickly. Infections, as we know, spread quickly in the garden, and blunt tools that crush the stems rather than cut them smoothly open the door to all sorts of diseases for hydrangeas. Let’s also not forget that after each cut, the plant deserves a good dose of energy in the form of high-quality fertilizer and thorough watering, so that it can quickly replace the lost mass.
Something for joy
When the hydrangeas are well taken care of, we can start the next step, which this time will make us especially happy, and maybe even the children. It will be about choosing which color of flowers we would like this year. It’s good to know that the color of flowers in large-leaved hydrangeas is not entirely determined by genetics, but mainly adapts to soil chemistry. If you want a deep blue color, you need to provide the plant with a very acidic pH and enough aluminum in the soil. At a higher pH (more alkaline soil), aluminum becomes unavailable to the plant and the flowers start to turn pink. There is even an old trick where gardeners buried rusty nails or copper wires near the roots to influence the resulting shade. Although today it is easier to use a special fertilizer, this ability of the plant to put on an imaginary coat according to our wishes makes growing hydrangeas a little adventure.
