HOW TO… prune hydrangeas

Of all the members of the hydrangea family, mophead and lacecap are the most commonly grown in UK gardens. These beautiful cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla flower on the previous season’s growth so will only need a light prune. Always leave the flower heads on the plants over winter as this gives the new buds some protection from hard frosts. In April, cut off the old flowerheads to just above a pair of new buds and at the same time remove any thin or dead stems right back to the base of the plant.