Content
- Do not cut back velvet hydrangea annually
- Velvet hydrangea flowers at the last year's wood
- Perform a rejuvenation cut every three years
- Tips & Tricks
The velvet hydrangea needs no annual pruning
Do not cut back velvet hydrangea annually
Velvet hydrangeas are a wild form of garden hydrangea, but there are now also in this species numerous breeding forms. The shrub can grow up to two and a half meters high and three meters wide, in exceptional cases even larger. Nevertheless, velvet hydrangea should not be circumcised regularly.
Velvet hydrangea flowers at the last year's wood
Like so many species of hydrangea - such as the popular farmer's hydrangea - the velvet hydrangea flowers on perennial wood. The flower buds for the following year thus develop already at the end of the flowering period in the previous year and also sit close to the faded flower plates. For this reason, the flowering flowers should not be removed in the autumn, but only in the spring after the last late frosts - they serve the new buds as an effective winter protection. An annual pruning is not necessary, on the contrary: Such a measure would reduce the flowering joy of the plants.
Perform a rejuvenation cut every three years
Nevertheless, you should do a rejuvenation cut in your velvet hydrangea about every three years to prevent it from becoming overgrown. This threatens, for example, when the bloom subsides. You can also cut carelessly if the velvet hydrangea does not grow as desired. Although in this case, the flowering once off or is reduced, but since the velvet hydrangea is very cut tolerant and drives out easily from sleeping buds, remains a more radical pruning without further consequences.
For the rarely due pruning you can proceed as follows:
Dead or diseased shoots, however, should be removed as soon as possible throughout the year. They weaken the plant and are a gateway for viruses, fungi and other pathogens.
Tips & Tricks
In spring, cut young velvet hydrangeas directly over the eyes (be careful not to cut flower buds!). By this measure you promote a strong branching and thus in the future more flowers.