AT A GLANCE
Hydrangeas cope well with a radical pruning, but they need a lot of time before they form new flowers again. Reasons for a pruning are diseases, pests, temperature influences or an old age of the hydrangea. Cut back to just above the ground, best during the winter months.
How well do hydrangeas tolerate a radical pruning?
Hydrangeas can take a radical pruning usually very good. However, unlike other plants, they recover from it rather slowly. While a vigorous pruning on other plants causes them to sprout more vigorously immediately, it ensures that hydrangeas do not flower for at least one season. For this reason, the radical cut, also known as a taper cut, requires a little patience.
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When does a radical pruning make sense and when not?
A radical pruning makes sense if your hydrangeas
- under a fungus Suffer,
- from pests are affected
- dried branches got,
- after winterfrozen to death are,
- through strong heat got a sunburn or
- are already older and should be rejuvenated.
How do you go about a radical pruning?
With a radical pruning cut the affected shoots a hand's breadth above the ground away. Make the cut clean and straight so the cut can heal quickly. This is the best way to protect the plant from fungal attack and frost.
When is the best time for a radical pruning?
The best way to radically cut back hydrangeas is in the winter through. Wait for a dry and frost-free day, this reduces the risk of frost damage.
However, if at any other time you discover any of the reasons listed above for a radical cut, the cut should be done immediately. Depending on the type of hydrangea and its pruning group, for example farmer's hydrangea, it may be that a cut in autumn leads to already formed buds become damaged or cut off. In the case of a radical cut back, however, it must be expected, regardless of the cutting group, that the following blossom missing.
Tip
Federal nature conservation law allows pruning only from October to February
The radical pruning of trees, shrubs and other woody plants is regulated in § 39 para. 5 BNatSchG regulated by law. According to this, trees and shrubs may be used in the period from 01. March to 30. September not be removed or put "on the stick". This also includes the radical pruning of hydrangea bushes.
