[Sally A]

I've always pruned in autumn, but Doc Hessayon says to wait til March, which I have done this year.

However, a lot of the stalks have little buds forming, and I wanted to reduce the height of it as well as thin it out.

If I get stuck in in March will I mess it up for flowers this year?

[splodger]

do you know the variety - as it does vary

[Sally A]

2 mop heads, 1 lace cap.  Exact variety unknown - sorry.

[splodger]

do you want me to do a wggy for hydrangeas for you sal - and list some varities  

[Aunt Sally]

I've always left the old flower heads on over winter as these protect the lower buds from cold weather.  I then prune back to good buds in spring making it a good shape with an openish centre and no crossing branches.

[Aunt Sally]

PS mine are mop heads

Good info here, but no plagiarising for wiggy please.  It would get John banned from google  :shock:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0205/hydrangea_pruning.asp

[Sally A]

that's why I left them this year Aunty, but hate being cruel to something that's budding already.

Varieties won't really help Splodger - they're older than me.

Please do a wysiwyggy if you feel there's a need, I must admit they're not my favourite, they've just always been here.

[splodger]

it will be a tricky wggy - because there are probably a hundred or more different varieties - and a few need completely different pruning from the norm - if it's not a special variety - then a haircut in late feb / mar will be fine - the heads are only left on over winter to help to protect from the frost as they can get damaged by hard frosts - most are grown indoors - for that reason - i will be able to take some pics of a lovely collection (friend has a mass of them in the pool house) - i might see if i can get some before / after pruning pics and in flower ones - they do look fab as a collection

i don't like them much - but that doesn't mean i can't prune them    although i might be a bit rough with them  

[Sally A]

think I'll give the pruning a bit of welly. I noticed last summer that new leaves/shoots were sprouting from the base but they didn't get much daylight. I don't think they've been really hard pruned for years.

[WG.]

If you need multiple WYGGY threads then feel free to post accordingly.

[splodger]

If you need multiple WYGGY threads then feel free to post accordingly.

get back to wggy - wiggy  

i'll wait til i have some pics   - i'll just name a few common and few specialist species - then peeps can just add their bit - hopefully  :roll:

[Aunt Sally]

think I'll give the pruning a bit of welly. I noticed last summer that new leaves/shoots were sprouting from the base but they didn't get much daylight. I don't think they've been really hard pruned for years.

I cut them quite hard back Sally and remove the thin stems altogether.

[Selkie]

I've always left the old flower heads on over winter as these protect the lower buds from cold weather.  I then prune back to good buds in spring making it a good shape with an openish centre and no crossing branches.

I do the same Auntie (we inherited one with the house, everyone has them here) -- lots of insects use the dried flower heads for protection through the winter, especially ladybirds; and our kitten loves chasing the dried flower heads round the patio on windy days (it's a bit like DeeDee's tumbleweed)

[Aunt Sally]

I do the same Auntie (we inherited one with the house, everyone has them here) -- lots of insects use the dried flower heads for protection through the winter, especially ladybirds ;and our kitten loves chasing the dried flower heads round the patio on windy days (it's a bit like DeeDee's tumbleweed)

That's enough reason to leave the dead flower heads on for me Rose  

[Sally A]

True, I found some ladybirds in my lace cap yesterday.