The cut of the garden hydrangea depends on the variety

Do not prune garden hydrangeas too much

Hydrangeas are usually divided into two pruning groups by experts: The first group blooms on the wood of the previous year and must not be pruned sharply in spring. The second group blooms on this year's wood and can easily be cut back radically in spring. Garden hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) belong to the first group, which is why only the old inflorescences have to be removed in spring. However, there are new Marcophylla varieties that bloom on both old and new wood. These can also be cut back a little more, provided you are aiming for a more compact growth.

also read

• For splendid flower balls and healthy plants: look after garden hydrangeas properly
• Garden hydrangea: planting and caring for
• Hibernate garden hydrangeas outdoors only when protected

New permanent blooming garden hydrangea varieties

So far garden hydrangeas have only bloomed on the old wood from last year. With the varieties “Endless Summer” and the “Forever & Ever” series, there are now hydrangeas that also produce flowers on the fresh, annual shoots. New buds form about every six weeks and open that same summer. The advantage of this new variety lies in its flowering pleasure: Even if the flower buds freeze to death in spring, new buds are immediately reproduced on the young shoots.

Tapering or thinning cut

In the first few years, garden hydrangeas do not need any pruning at all. It is best to leave them completely alone at first so that they can grow into even bushes. They can be thinned regularly later. In the spring you cut off a third of the oldest shoots just above the ground. In this way, the growth of new shoots is stimulated from below. This will prevent the bushes from aging.

Pruning measures for permanently blooming garden hydrangeas

With the new, permanently blooming Marcophylla varieties, you should regularly cut out everything that has withered in order to stimulate further flower formation. Only the flowers that appear later are left on the plant as autumn and winter decorations and are only cut off in the following late winter / spring.

Tips & Tricks

If your garden hydrangea does not really want to bloom or does not develop any buds, the cause is usually an incorrect pruning, for example because the flower stalks that had faded were cut too deep in the previous autumn or because the plant was pruned in spring. Do not cut back garden hydrangeas, just cut off the old inflorescences.