Hydrangea's

[grannie39]

Are there any good gardener's out there, and can you please advise me about my hydrangea, last year on bad advice, I did not cut it down until about Easter, therefore this past summer it has not flowered at all, but it has grown to approx 5ft. no flower's, this week I have just spotted some tiny bud's like the one's that appear in spring, but alas they are too late, will it be alright if I cut it down to about 18ins now.I it looks very healthy and green. thanks for your guidance.

[Robinia]

Do you mean buds up the sides of the stems? they'll be next year's leaves...There's no need to over prune hydrangeas unless you really have to. I just take about a third off the stems in spring, which leaves it between 3 & 4 ft high, & remove any really old or weak stems at the base.

[grannie39]

no, the bud's are on the top of the stalk's where flower bud's would be in the spring, but thanks for your info.

[Robinia]

oh dear, that's a shame grannie...just take up to about 18" off it next March & hope fully it'll flower

[coccinelle]

I prune my hydrangeas once they've flowered so usually September. I would just leave it well be. The winter will slow the formation of the buds and it'll flower next year.

[foxyferret]

I always leave the flower heads on until early spring (easter is a bit late) to provide some protection from the frost. When I prune, I only take the flowers heads off down to the next bud you can see. I remove all brown dead stems from the inside of the plant right down to the base. This lets new shoots come up. If it has overgrown too tall, I would take the stems off by about 1 foot just above a bud, but again I would not do this until early spring. I have 2 of these plants, one in the garden and one in a tub and they both flower prolifically every year. Good luck, grannie.

[flyingpig]

If you go on to Bluewisteria.co.uk website it gives very detailed information on how to care for hydrangea's and lots more information on gardening. Hope this helps.