As autumn sets in, gardeners might find themselves wondering about the tasks ahead, specifically when it comes to caring for hydrangeas. At this time of year their well-being and blooming potential next year hang in balance. It's a common misconception that pruning hydrangea bushes before winter conserves energy, but this practice actually leaves the plant more susceptible to frost damage.
Gardening aficionado Christine Covino has spoken out against autumn pruning, warning it can disrupt the flowering cycle of hydrangeas, potentially leading to a bloomless and weak specimen the following year. 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 .
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 wood' hydrangeas like bigleafs, oakleafs, or mopheads at this time is ill-advised as they've already formed next year's flower buds by late summer on existing stems, so cutting them back now means no blossoms come spring. Conversely, 'new wood' hydrangeas su.