Many garden plants are cut back before winter and spent flowers are removed. When it comes to hydrangeas, you should consider a few points before pruning - and if necessary, only cut them back in spring. Here's what you should know before cutting.
Should hydrangea flowers be cut before overwintering?
For outdoor hydrangeas, you should leave the flowers over the winter months as additional protection from the cold and only cut them back in spring. For the more winter-hardy varieties, you can also cut off the flowers in autumn. You should definitely cut off your hydrangea flowers before covering them with fleece for a longer period of time. Otherwise there is a risk of mold due to the lack of ventilation.
Should you cut off hydrangea flowers before overwintering?
It is generally recommended that you leave the hydrangea flowers standing over the winterThe reason for this is that the dried inflorescences serve as additional insulation for the plant. In particular, the varieties that set buds for the coming year in late summer benefit from the protective inflorescences. This also includes the popular farmer's hydrangea. Other varieties that only develop their buds on the new shoots in spring, such as quickball and panicle hydrangeas, can be cut back in autumn. They are less sensitive to frost than farmer's hydrangeas.
When should I cut off the flowers after winter?
After winter, it is recommended to prune hydrangeas early. The best period is inFebruary When cutting back the flowers, be careful not to damage the new buds. If you grow your hydrangeas in pots and overwinter indoors, it doesn't matter whether you cut off the flowers before or after winter.
Tip
Cut off flowers if entire plant is covered
If you cover your hydrangeas completely with fleece or other cold protection in winter, it is recommended to cut off the flowers before overwintering to avoid mold. Good reasons for completely covering the plant are young plants, extreme frost or an unprotected location. However, you should only cover the hydrangeas for as short a time as possible so that they are adequately ventilated. If necessary, only cover your hydrangeas overnight and remove the protection during the day.
