2 min readHydrangeas may be in bloom until late summer and early autumn, but it's never too early to plan their aftercare to ensure an even better display next year.
From mophead to lacecap hydrangeas, these show-stopping flowers dazzle beds and borders from early summer right until the end of August—and even after they've finished flowering, their papery seed heads continue to bring texture and interest to the garden (while also making beautiful dried arrangements indoors).
But, according to Ashley Edwards, plant doctor at online garden center Crocus, there's one thing you should do with your hydrangeas: very little. While it might be tempting to cut back faded flowers, leaving them in place over autumn and winter can protect buds from frost.
“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,” Edwards says. “Simply remove them in early spring when new growth begins.”
However, there is one hydrangea variety that should be treated differently because it flowers on new growth: Hydrangea Annabelle.
For these hydrangeas, Edwards has this advice: “Cut the stems back to around 30–60 centimeters (or 1–2 feet) in late winter or early spring, and it will reward you with fresh, vigorous growth and those huge, creamy-white flowerheads that make it such a garden favorite.
“Annabelles have earned their popularity because they're dependable, easy to grow and incredibly generous with their blooms. Whether planted as a standalone specimen or in drifts through a border, its enormous flowerheads bring impact from midsummer well into autumn,” Edwards says.
For other hydrangeas, including oakleaf and smooth, these flowers can be left as is. Then, in spring, cut back each faded flower head and remove dead, damaged, or weak stems at the base.
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