|
|
|
Hardiness Zone: 7a
P.J. from Delaware
When to "Deadhead" hydrangeas (remove the spent blooms) depends on who you ask. Some gardeners take off the heads in the late fall, while others feel the timing is unimportant and that removing the spent blooms can be carried out at any time without harming next year's blooms as long as you remove them with short enough stems so that you don't disturb the developing buds.
Personally, I prefer to leave the dried flower heads on my hydrangeas. Here is why. First off, I think the dried flower heads add a bit of interest to my winter garden. Secondly, it's possible that the dried flower heads provide a certain degree of protection to next year's buds. Granted, this protection is limited at best, but it sure can't hurt. I remove my spend blooms in the spring, as soon as new buds appear, by cutting the spent blooms on their stalks back to the uppermost pair of new buds, being careful to avoid damaging any of the new shoots.
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
Like ThriftyFun on Facebook
