How to stimulate the growth of hydrangeas: experts name the perfect time for pruning

Graceful and bright hydrangeas will become a real decoration for your home and garden. These flowers love light, but the scorching sun can cause burns. Hydrangeas are moisture-loving, so you should choose the optimal watering regime.

It would seem that these are quite unpretentious flowers, but there is one nuance that even experienced florists often forget about. Experts tell us when to prune hydrangeas for better growth stimulation.

Where hydrangeas grow best

First of all, you should take care of the right conditions. Alkaline soil types can harm hydrangeas due to a lack of iron, so it is better to plant the flowers in well-drained, loamy soil with an acidic or neutral pH.

When and how to prune hydrangeas

According to experts from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the most popular and least demanding hydrangeas are mophead and lacecap. The first variety can be recognized by full, round inflorescences and large petals, while lacecaps have small flowers in the center and an outer border of larger petals.

For the most part, hydrangeas should be pruned in late winter or early spring. However, climbing varieties are pruned after flowering in summer. The wrong time for pruning increases the risk of a complete cessation of flowering in the next season.

Experts advise removing dead flower heads in early spring by cutting the stem to the first strong, healthy pair of buds. You can also cut off one or two of the oldest stems at the base to encourage active and healthy growth and an increase in the number of inflorescences.

How to fertilize hydrangeas

You can help the plant with bone fertilizer, which is a product of processing animal bones used as a phosphorus fertilizer. For greater efficiency, it should be mixed with manure before applying it to the garden.

However, when transplanting, it is worth paying attention to the fact that an excessive amount of organic matter can have a bad effect on the flower. Organic fertilizers provide a set of green mass, and the flowers can grow pale, painful and small. At the beginning of the growing season, it is best to fertilize the flowers with nitrogen fertilizers, and in the fall, add potassium salt.

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