Our blowsy hydrangeas may still be putting on a show (even if they're looking a little scorched from the heatwave), but now's the perfect time to learn how to care for them so they come back even better next year.
From mophead to lacecap, hydrangeas generally stop blooming between late summer and early autumn. Like many plants, this is when they redirect their energy into new leaf growth and recover from any environmental stresses.
When the flowers begin to fade, their brown, wispy heads provide plenty of interest during the winter months (and make wonderful dried arrangements inside).
But what should you do with them when they fade? And when is the best time for a prune?
"For most hydrangeas, the best thing you can do after flowering is... very little. Leaving the faded flowerheads in place over winter not only adds beautiful structure to the garden, but also helps protect the developing buds beneath from frost. Simply remove them in early spring when new growth begins," says Ashley Edwards, plant doctor at online garden centre Crocus.
However, there is one hydrangea variety that needs to be treated a little differently: beautiful white Hydrangea 'Annabelles'.
According to Ashley, Annabelles flowers on new growth and needs cutting back around 30- 60 cm (1- 2 ft) in late winter or early spring.
"Doing this will reward you with fresh, vigorous growth and those huge, creamy-white flowerheads that make it such a garden favourite," he tells us.
"Annabelle has earned its popularity because it's dependable, easy to grow and incredibly generous with its blooms. Whether planted as a standalone specimen or in drifts through a border, its enormous flowerheads bring impact from midsummer well into autumn."
When you do come to prune your hydrangeas, always use clean secateurs, then remove dead or damaged stems to thin out old growth and remove spent blooms. You'll have a beautiful display by next summer.
Summer gardening edit
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
