Horticultural aide-mémoire

Prune Hydrangea paniculata

The genus Hydrangea is full of lovely things, especially big shrubs that bloom in late summer, just when you thought it was all over. Their pruning requirements vary, but none is complicated. Hydrangea paniculata is a case in point. You could simply leave it alone, but floral performance is improved by hard pruning each year. Now is the time. Go through the shoots and remove entirely any that are weedy or ill placed. Then cut those that remain down to a stout pair of buds a few inches from the base and dispose of the prunings. Your reward will come from July onwards. SCD