Hydrangeas, the popular and colourful blooms, may be falling short of their full glorious potential due to erroneous pruning - a faux pas that could see your garden miss out on its vibrant splendour.

Known for their "big fluffy blooms", correct pruning can turn your outdoor area into a flourishing paradise, but have you fallen foul of this widespread blunder? If you're dreaming of having your hydrangeas burst into magnificent bloom by spring 2025, now's the moment to dive into some vital winter prepping – essential for the ultimate

Sharing a pivotal piece of advice on , warms: "If you're not pruning them the right way, then you could be missing out on their full potential."

READ MORE:

With hydrangeas, the timing of the trim is crucial, and while an early spring pruning does wonders, there are important steps to take immediately for future blossoming success. The TikTok gardening expert emphasizes: "It's really important to leave the flower heads on over winter because they help to protect any new buds which are forming lower down in the plant."

For those who are zealous about their gardens, there are two essential cutting techniques, depending on the hydrangea variety in question, reports . She further clarifies: "There are plants which flower on old wood and plants which flower on new wood."

For ideal hydrangea maintenance, her instruction is concise: "Smooth and Panicle hydrangeas flower on new wood, so they can be pruned back drastically to just above a few healthful buds lower down on the plant."

For those growing Macrophylla variants like Lacecaps and Mopheads, she has a top tip: "The Macrophylla hydrangeas called the Lacecaps and the Mopheads will flower on old wood, so all you need to do is remove the flower head, just above a couple of nodes, come spring, you should see new shoots appearing, and then flowers will form from midsummer."

She assured gardening experts that with the right pruning know-how, they could turn their gardens into stunning havens. As the comment section buzzed with queries, one plant aficionado asked for advice on the best time to transplant a vibrant hydrangea from pot to garden bed, questioning: "I have a smashing one in a pot; when will I transfer it to the ground now or springtime?"

The gardening experts advised: "Try to plant this autumn/winter before the ground freezes over but when the plant is in a dormant state."

Continuing the conversation, another sought guidance on how to control an overgrowing Mophead, enquiring: "How do I cut back Mophead? If I don't, it will take over the whole garden. Can I cut it back hard?" The enlightening reply was: "I'd recommend cutting back 1/3 to 1/2 of the stems harder so you still get flowers next year. They can get huge!"