Gardeners urged to hang up shears and not prune hydrangeas in late October

The ideal time for pruning hydrangeas in late winter or early spring

Pruning in the autumn risks removing next year's flower buds

Many gardeners do not know when to prune hydrangeas. Some think it should be done in the fall after the leaves have fallen as is the case with other deciduous shrubs like roses and buddlejas. Others think it should be carried out in the spring just before new growth begins.

Well, here is the answer. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the best time to prune hydrangeas is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts - usually between February and March.

Gardeners are being urged to hang up their shears and not prune their hydrangeas in late October. This type of pruning will ensure that the plant blooms next year.

Pruning hydrangeas too late can remove next year's flower buds, resulting in the plant not flowering as well as it could or not at all.

Hydrangeas produce their flowers on new shoots. If they're pruned in late October, these new shoots may have already formed. So cutting them back will remove the flower buds for the next season.

The RHS points out this is especially important for mophead and lacecap hydrangeas. These flower on stems produced in the current year. If they are pruned in the fall or midwinter, they will not produce any blooms the following year.

However, panicle hydrangeas flower on stems produced in the previous summer. Therefore, they can be pruned in late autumn or winter.

The RHS has the following advice for pruning hydrangeas:

• Remove any dead or diseased branches first.
• Then cut back the stems to the first pair of healthy buds.
• If the plant is overgrown, it can be rejuvenated by cutting all the stems back to the base.

With a little care, you can help ensure that your hydrangeas will bloom beautifully year after year.