Gardening expert's five 'essential' steps to prune hydrangeas for best blooms

Keen gardeners may be worrying about their precious hydrangeas being hit by the cold frosts of February. But fear not – it's time to sharpen those shears and give your plants some TLC. These perennial showstoppers need a good pruning now, more than ever, to ensure they come back with a riot of colour when the sunshine returns. Get in there before your hydrangeas wake fully from their winter snooze around late February or early March to avoid undue stress and really see what's going on with those bare branches. A proper prune ensures all that pent-up plant energy is directed at fresh, vibrant growth rather than wasted on the withered twigs of yesteryears.

Lee Burkhill is an award-winning gardener, and on his website, Garden Ninja, guides us through the pruning technique. He reckons knowing your way around a hydrangea trim is "essential" for a summer garden splashed with "beautiful blooms", reports the Express. Lee said: "Hydrangeas are both iconic and surprisingly easy to look after with some careful pruning to get the best out of them." He added: "I prune mine here in the UK in late February. It doesn't take long to prune hydrangeas and there's very little damage you can do that won't grow back.

"So please don't be put off pruning in the worry you will somehow damage your Hydrangea!" According to Lee, hydrangea pruning "couldn't be simpler" as all you need is a pair of sharp and clean secateurs. Lee said: "I do this first before thinning or reducing the height of the shrub as it gives me a better view of the overall shrub size and shape." Lee explained: "By removing around 1/4 of the oldest wood/stems, you can help keep your Hydrangea productive as energy will then be sent into new fresh growth.

"Over time, older stems will get longer and less productive, leading to potential bare patches and less productive displays." This is done to encourage fresh blooms and ensure you get bigger and more vibrant petals quickly once the hydrangea flowering season begins. Simply thin out and remove any tangled or crossing branches as they lead to the plant becoming more damaged and more difficult to look after over time.

Lee said: "Don't panic if you take off too much during the pruning process. Plants are incredibly tough and will always bounce back. A hard prune always gives your plants an added boost during the next growing season!". Lee said "If you leave it as is, although it may flower, it often becomes top-heavy and looks bare further down. Cutting it above a bud 1/3 of the way down gives a full-looking shrub come flowering time.".