Gardeners are being advised to hold off on pruning hydrangeas before winter arrives, as leaving the faded blooms in place helps protect the shrubs from frost damage and keeps them looking attractive through the colder months.
Hydrangea varieties vary in their cold tolerance, and winter damage can be distressing to see. While many species can survive winter, their resilience has limits. Unpredictable winter weather can be particularly damaging, sometimes leading to few or no blooms the following summer.
Protecting the plant from before the first winter frost until after the final frost of spring is key. Ish Kamran, known as @gardening.with.ish on Instagram, has shared what gardeners should do with their hydrangeas as winter approaches.
Why Delay Pruning Hydrangeas
Addressing the common dilemma of whether to prune hydrangeas or leave them alone, Ish explained that delaying pruning offers two benefits: the plants look great in winter and the blooms have thermal properties that provide protection.
Ish said, "Hydrangeas are starting to wind themselves down and brown off. It's tempting to want to prune them down, but they have the benefits of not only looking great in winter but has thermal properties too."
He added, "Today's gardening tip is less about what to do and more about leaving things be and letting them thrive naturally. Let them look fantastic over winter and enjoy them in full flower again next spring."
Expert Guidance on Winter Care
Gardening specialists at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also advise against pruning hydrangeas just before winter. They explained, "Although the blooms on hydrangeas can, in mild areas, be removed as soon as they have faded, it is best to leave them on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection for the tender growth buds below."
Specialists at Soto Gardens echoed this view, encouraging gardeners to "avoid pruning hydrangeas in the autumn or winter". They added, "The flower buds protect the hydrangea in winter from freezing temperatures and add winter interest in your garden."
When to Prune Instead
For those looking to cut back their hydrangeas, Ish encouraged gardeners to "wait until around about February or March time before that new growth comes." He said, "As a result, you've protected them over the winter, but then you've taken care of it, ready for new growth next year."
The RHS advises removing dead flowerheads in "early spring", trimming the stem back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds beneath the faded bloom.
How to Prune Hydrangeas
When pruning hydrangeas, Ish advises cutting just above a healthy leaf. As Ish put it, "You'll usually see a few little shoots there that are ready to go. But if you want to get it under control and it's a little too big, you can go a little bit lower. Just make sure you always cut above a healthy leaf."
The RHS recommends removing one or two of the oldest stems at the base to stimulate the growth of new shoots that will produce more flowers.
Plants that have become overgrown or misshapen can be completely rejuvenated by cutting all the stems back to the base. However, this means sacrificing all the blooms for that summer, as the new stems won't flower until the year after.
