Heavenly hydrangeas

Gill’s gardener, Adrian Miles, shares his expertise on this favourite bloom.

Need to know…

• Mophead hydrangeas can be cut almost down to the ground. They won’t flower that year, but mulch them and they’ll come back strong.

• In normal times, take out a third of old mophead stems in spring, trimming the rest to decent buds.

• Limit plants to six or seven stems to avoid them getting straggly.

• Only take off dead flowerheads once all danger of frost is past.

• For paniculatas, nip back dead wood and spring-prune to let in light.

• Give climbing hydrangeas an early prune. Tidy in October and February.

• Deer don’t like hydrangeas, but rabbits will nibble them.