Do not prune hard - remove any deadheads from last year

Shrubs in this group flower from mid to late summer on the previous year's growth. Hydrangeas are typical of this group. They require little attention but regular pruning enhances flowering in most cases. The old flower heads are best left on the plant over winter as they will provide some frost protection for the rather tender growth buds below them.

Watch out for strong fat buds which are most likely to produce flowers and cut the relevant shoots back to those, leaving about 2 cm of wood to allow for excessive drying out of the cut surface. Wispy shoots can be taken out right from the base as well as one or two of the oldest stems depending on the overall size of the plant.

Why prune

How to prune