You may not think it but autumn is a busy time in the garden. There are plenty of jobs to do as we bid farewell to summer and prepare for winter. And though there are many dark days to get through, some jobs will have a big bearing on next years garden.
From crops to blooms, tasks carried out now will either benefit or blight your spring. One plant needed special care are your hydrangeas. There's a common misconception that pruning hydrangea bushes before winter conserves energy.
In fact the practice leaves the plant more susceptible to problems such as frost damage. Expert Christine Covino has warned about autumn pruning saying it can disrupt the flowering cycle of hydrangeas, potentially leading to weak specimen the following year. Worst of all, actions taken now could kill off next year's flowers.
READ MORE: Five tasks to do now to keep rats and mice from your garden She stressed: "If you heavily prune your hydrangea, you risk removing the flowers for next year since many hydrangeas set their buds in the fall on old wood." Covino also noted: "There are some cases that call for a heavy prune, but that would usually take place in the spring and I highly recommend consulting with a professional before doing something drastic," reports the Express . Why is autumn not the time to trim hydrangeas? Christine unveiled that two primary varieties of hydrangeas, each with its unique pruning schedule, dictate the ideal timeframe for snipping to achieve optimal flowering.
Pruning 'old .