Garden Q&A: When should I prune my hydrangea once it's finished flowering?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

The hydrangea H arborescens 'Annabelle'. File pictures

My hydrangea Annabelle has finished flowering. When should I prune it?

ANSWER

H arborescens 'Annabelle' is a really beautiful, white-form hydrangea and as such is a different type to what we traditionally think of as hydrangeas, namely the mophead forms. 

Pruning is done at the same time, though, for all types. 

Now that the blooms are gone, you can cut back but I would recommend leaving the job until the other side of winter. 

Leave the task until we are entering spring. 

Then, cut Annabelle back to a pair of leaf buds low on the plant. 

You can cut them back as low as you want really but I would suggest cutting to within 30cm or a foot from soil level — this will give you stronger stems and larger flowers next year. 

As soon as you prune, you will be encouraging some fresh new growth. 

This growth will be vulnerable to frost damage and that is why I would leave it off until late February or early March.

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