Hydrangeas will stay protected all winter with simple method ensuring big summer blooms

With spring around the corner, many people would be looking to prep their gardens, but being too eager to deadhead your hydrangeas could do more harm than good.

February is a great time to get back into the garden and start pruning certain plants.

Hydrangeas are known for their beautiful pastel flowers that make stunning additions to any garden.

While they are also relatively low maintenance, getting the preparation right before spring is imperative.

In regions with mild climates, it's possible to prune dead flower heads from mophead hydrangeas, but it's generally recommended to leave them intact. 

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These spent blooms serve as natural insulation, safeguarding the growth buds that will develop into next year's blossoms. 

During winter, hydrangeas retain moisture within their cork-like stems, which may freeze and harm the plant in colder conditions. 

Consequently, it's best to wait until spring to remove the dead flowerheads, ensuring the plant's vitality and promoting healthy blooming in the coming season.

Meanwhile, for lace cap hydrangeas, which are hardier than mopheads, should be trimmed as soon as the flowers are spent.

This is to prevent the plant from putting unnecessary energy into seed production.

To properly deadhead your lace caps, using clean and sharp secateurs, snip just above the top pair of leaves, closest to the flower.