Climbing hydrangeas

Once these beautiful shade-loving climbers get going, they make the most spectacular features. You can give them a trim after flowering to stop the plant from setting seed, which can inhibit growth. It will also keep the plant in check if it’s outgrowing its space. Trim back long, flowered shoots, cutting back to a strong pair of buds to keep the plant in its allotted space. Only prune the top of the plant lightly, because most blooms appear at the top and hard pruning can reduce flowering.