Hydrangeas with their large, beautifully colored flower balls are an attractive garden decoration and also thrive in a pot on the balcony. Depending on which type of hydrangea you care for, regular pruning is recommended. Find out in this article which species you can cut back in autumn and what you need to pay attention to.
Which hydrangeas should you cut in autumn?
In autumn, hydrangeas in cutting group 2, which include viburnum hydrangea and panicle hydrangea, should be cut back. Remove disturbing and dead branches, weaker shoots and shorten this year's shoots so that only one pair of eyes remains.
Overview of the cutting groups
Hydrangeas in cutting group 1 must be cut in spring because they produce next year's flowers the previous year. This cutting group includes:
- Farmer Hydrangea
- Plate hydrangea
- Velvet hydrangea
- Climbing hydrangea
- Oakleaf Hydrangea
For hydrangeas in cutting group 2, pruning takes place during care in late autumn. This cutting group includes only two species. These are:
- Snowball hydrangea
- panicle hydrangea
Tools required
Smaller specimens can easily be cut back with rose or pruning shears (€14.00 on Amazon). As with all pruning measures in the garden, make sure you have meticulously clean pruning tools with sharp blades. To prevent fungi and pathogens from penetrating the interface, it is recommended to disinfect the tool.
Telescopic scissors are useful for large hydrangea. Never support ladders on the hydrangea as the shrub cannot withstand this load. Instead, use a stepladder to trim the branches at the top.
Instructions for proper pruning in autumn
When caring for the tree in autumn, all disturbing and dead branches are removed. Weaker shoots and branches that grow unfavorably or inwards are also cut off.
Shrink this year's shoots so that only one pair of eyes remains. The hydrangea sprouts new ones from these cut ends the following year and therefore grows richly branched.
Specimens that are too tall can be shortened by about a third. Since the hydrangeas in cutting group 2 bloom on the annual wood, you don't have to miss out on the abundance of flowers next year with this radical cut.
Tips & Tricks
So that the hydrangea has a beautiful shape, you should always inspect the plant from a distance during the care process.
