Rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera): when and how to prune

Rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera): when to prune it?

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From late March to April, as the buds break and you can see clearly which wood is dead.

What else to prune in those months? March · April

Rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera): how to prune it?

1. Cut dead and frosted stems back to healthy wood.
2. Cut off the spent flower heads above a few healthy buds.
3. Every few years, remove an old, bare stem at the base to keep the shrub young.
4. Leave the other stems alone: hard pruning costs flowers.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: March–April.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in March–April can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera) flowers in July–August, when it attracts bees.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Hydrangea
• Mountain hydrangea
• Panicled hydrangea
• Smooth hydrangea (Annabelle)
• Oakleaf hydrangea
• Climbing hydrangea

Plant profile: Rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera) · Pruning calendar and basic rules