How to Prune Mophead, Lacecap and Panicle Hydrangeas - 2023

I show how and when to prune mophead, lacecap and panicle hydrangeas so they bloom all Summer long.
My English Garden is near the coast in North-West England, 1/3 of an acre (including the house) Zone 9a with sandy soil.
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All footage and sound recorded in the garden by me.
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All imagery, video and images copyright © Paul T's World
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You are not permitted to copy, download, show, adapt or change in any way the content of this video for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission from Paul T's World.
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#Englishgarden#hydrangea#prunehydrangea

[@zalehaburude7752]

I am looking forward to seeing those Hydrangeas trees produce beautiful Flowers... 😍 😍 😍 Thank you for sharing... Paul T's World. Greetings from North Borneo

[@paultsworld]

Good morning Zaleha. Yes, the hydrangeas are starting to flower so I’ll do a video shortly. Greeting to North Borneo. 🌸

[@wendychandler8304]

Somebody said, years ago, 'U see you've been round with your cutters again' - when my garden looked a bit bare. The results aren't always great. At least we have fun and now it's time to get tidy. Thanks Paul.

[@paultsworld]

I’m the same Wendy - once I get going it’s pretty easy to see the ‘track’ I took. 😄

[@wendybartlett6717]

Thanks Paul, you've motivated me to get pruning. Looking forward to seeing how your Hydrangeas do later in the year but I've always found that a good "hair cut" is just what they like. So nice to see your little Robin. He's a friendly little chap.

[@paultsworld]

Exactly Wendy - I good ‘thin out’ always makes shrubs look better. Enjoy your pruning.

[@mr.sidhanta5982]

Very informative 👍 Indeed, hydrangea are stunning flowers ❤💚😃

[@paultsworld]

They certainly are - I really like them. 👍

[@jcking6785]

So thrilled to see you’ve released a new video!

[@paultsworld]

So nice nice of you 🌸

[@eileenmc8808]

Paul, you're fearless!😅 Love your experiments! And your little shadow. 🪺

[@paultsworld]

Thank you Eileen! Robin says Hi. 🌻👍

[@kimfox5186]

Most enjoyable 😃. Love your experiments, they make me laugh especially since I know you'll have 💯 success. Have a great day Paul

[@paultsworld]

Thanks for the confidence Kim! Makes me (nervously) laugh too! 👍😀

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

I’m so glad you’re trying this experiment Paul 😀 great video 🥰

[@paultsworld]

Hi Jasmine - I’ll give it a feed and let’s see what it does!

[@MegaDamirko]

Hi, Paul, greetings from Sarajevo. Such a pleasure to watch you in your garden. I appreciate your unpretentious style. It's very relatable. One of the few uncomplicated and "by example" videos on how to deal with mopheads. Your experience really comes through. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and garden with us. Looking forward for more content from one of my favourites. Have a great gardening season.

[@paultsworld]

Hi Damir, thank you very much - I am very pleased my videos are useful to you - and thank you for letting me know, it's very encouraging. Greetings to Sarajevo.

[@khayescobar1819]

Good evening Paul watching from USA thank you very much that’s what I gonna do tomorrow if the weather is nice 😊❤️

[@paultsworld]

Hello Khay, enjoy your day in the garden. 👍

[@richardhigel5612]

Thank you for your experiments. Hopefully they will be successful!!

[@paultsworld]

Time will tell - at worse it will be nicely rejuvenated!

[@eddreemiles5459]

I get so much inspiration from you for my garden. Another wonderful video.

[@paultsworld]

That makes me happy - thank you.

[@margaretmichelsen766]

Hi Paul T, thank you for your tutorial, from the timid pruner! "" I don't know what the experts are going to say about this?" lol. Maybe you ARE the expert. Looked pretty good to me! Using all the principles of general pruning, looks like a nice job. We will look forward to the results of the experiment. BTW I really love that patio hydrangea. I have an image of you going to your neighbours at midnight digging plants out, lol! what a well edited, informative video: You Tube gold!

[@paultsworld]

Good morning Margaret, from one kind of pruner to another - go for it!😀 That patio hydrangea really lights up in the summer - previous owners planted it in the garden - I moved it for 2 months - had an extended kitchen and patio built - then put it back in the same place where I left a gap! It never missed a beat. I have a midnight trowel always at the ready 🤣

[@GardenerGray]

Thanks Paul, very fitting as I'm planning a very similar video of my own this weekend. Great update. Just subscribed 😊

[@paultsworld]

Hi Gray, it’s a great time of year to do any pruning - thank you for subscribing!

[@patriciagonzalo3607]

Beautiful !!! Here in the South of Sout America , the climate is very adverse for.hidrangeas. In this month of March , we prepare the cuttings for Spring 2023 🌱🌱🌱

[@paultsworld]

Thank you! Good luck with your cuttings - a great early season activity. 🌻

[@patriciagonzalo3607]

@@paultsworld Thank you for sharing your excellent work !

[@paultsworld]

You’re welcome!

[@mariniedermeyer7235]

Hi Paul! Great you doing experiments, and looking forward to see how the hydrangeas are doing in the summer! I cut my lime lights back quiet a bit as they were very floppy last summer. So hopefully they’ll grow some stronger stems. I guess it’s also a bit of an experiment!😅 Love the robin! We finally sighted one in our garden since we’ve been feeding but it’s still a rare sight. Hopefully it’ll show up more often as we continue to feed. Btw great tip feeding them dried worms! They are loving those and the sunflower hearts! Happy gardening from🇨🇭

[@paultsworld]

Hi Mari, I have a limelight in a pot and it’s flopping so am thinking of putting it between shrubs to hold it up a bit - it is gorgeous though! How nice you’re giving your Robin mealworms and the hearts - hopefully they’ll be back for more. Greetings to Switzerland.

[@cindyl3916]

Your easy way of going as you share your extensive knowledge is such a pleasure! My goal is to plant enough to have the privacy you attained with your place and it to be as lush as yours or close as I can get here in 6b/7a Oklahoma. I just adore your work and your little bird that keeps its eye on you✨Thank you so much!

[@paultsworld]

Thank you so much Cindy, I’m so glad you enjoy the videos and the little robin. Shrubs make great privacy plants - particularly the evergreens - I also love the ‘lush’ look - roll on Summer for that. 🌻

[@LindasFlowersandVegetablesGard]

you have a beautiful garden, whacked every your video ,thank for sharing!

[@LindasFlowersandVegetablesGard]

watched every of your video.

[@paultsworld]

Thank you Linda - it’s appreciated - glad they are useful. (I also get caught out by predictive text!)

[@britishgal1808-Sue]

I love that you’re not afraid to experiment with your plants. 🌸🌹 Another terrific video, Paul and lovely to see your Robin friend. :) 🌹🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼💐 We had 20” of snow this week lol soooo it’ll be a while before we see any of our plants. haha.

[@paultsworld]

So glad you liked my video Sue - and the robin - who now has a girlfriend! Hopefully your plants will be nicely insulated under the snow. ❄️ 🌸🌻

[@britishgal1808-Sue]

@@paultsworld aww you must try to videotape Mr Robin and his new GF. I would love to see them. Maybe they will raise a family in your garden!! Yes, the plants are well insulated, most come back each year. Next month the hummingbirds will return along with the other migratory birds that come here to breed. Something to look forward too. 🌸🌼🌺

[@paultsworld]

Don’t think they’ve started nest building yet - he’s singing, she’s hanging around being fed by him. It’ll get frantic soon. How exciting anticipating the hummingbird arrival. Something so special. 🌻🌸

[@britishgal1808-Sue]

@@paultsworld make sure you capture the frantic bits lol. It will be exciting if you can see where they nest, without disturbing them of course. Yes, after a long winter that never seems to end it’s something to look forward too :)

[@paultsworld]

They once nested in the potting shed! I opened it to go in yesterday and he snuck in behind me looking smug. There is a hole in the door so he knows how to get in and out. 😀🌻

[@lynnhunt2865]

Paul, some great advice as usual. I've cut my mophead hydrangea back in spring, and it always has huge blue flowers in the summer. I'm sure yours will too.

[@paultsworld]

I love large blue hydrangeas - mine tend to be bluey pink. Yours are obviously very happy Lynn.

[@renatalimarzi]

Hello, dearest Paul! Your content is very interesting and really informative and helpful! Thanks a lot for your tips! HUGS and have a great weekend and enjoy the springtime in your wonderful garden! Renata

[@paultsworld]

Hiya Renata, thank you so much - have a nice weekend in your garden, or maybe travelling with your camera? 🌸

[@renatalimarzi]

@@paultsworld Thanks! Ok, I'm Waiting for my Easter trip to London!!😉😉 Ciao!

[@paultsworld]

Wow, Renata - London! Have a great time and I’ll look forward to your videos. 👍🌻

[@renatalimarzi]

@@paultsworld Sure, Thank you so much!! A trip to London after.....39 years!! Hugs, Paul!

[@paultsworld]

Can’t wait for your videos - ciao. 🌸

[@linakhoury6623]

Hi Paul, the hydrangeas will be amazing after pruning and they well bloom well for you . Have anice day .

[@paultsworld]

Hi Lina, can’t wait for Summer to see what they do. 👍🌻

[@itsmewende]

Ya know every time someone mentions the different varieties, I never knew which was which, thanks so much for including those photos. I pruned some a few weeks ago, the deer pruned some before I got to. Your robin reminds me of seeing pets in the garden following their gardener around 😊 Side note, here where I live in the states, we say lace cap too.

[@paultsworld]

I am pleased you found the 'extra' videos useful for identification - it appears deer do like hydrangeas! Thank you for letting me know you also use the term lacecap. 👍🌻

[@mariamojicasarmiento]

Good afternoon Paul, omg was that a camelia plant when you were feeding the little robin? Wondering 🤔. All your hydrangeas look amazing! Can't wait to see them in their glory during the summer! Take care!

[@paultsworld]

Hello Maria, yes - it’s a camellia ‘donation’. It flowers beautifully each year although many buds dropped off when it got really cold this Winter. This year will be great for hydrangeas 🤞

[@daigaermane8977]

❤❤❤Good morning. THANK YOU SO MUCH🎉

[@paultsworld]

You're very welcome Daiga. 🌻

[@pitinannan]

I wish my Hydrangeas doing good like this .

[@paultsworld]

I am lucky, these hydrangeas seem to like my soil - although I do put an ericaceous mulch over them and try and keep them well watered - depending on the Summer!

[@jimbailey3705]

Will be an interesting experiment. I think you will get some flowers, just not as many. There's a front garden I walk past on my way to work where the hydrangeas are right underneath the livingroom windows, so they get cut back hard every second year - generally in the spring! They flower amazing the year they are not cut back and I'm sure I've still seen flowers on them in the year they were cut back though... just... not many!

[@paultsworld]

That’s interesting and exactly what I’m expecting to happen with mine. Now that I’ve encouraged the buds at the base to grow I want to see what they do by this Summer.

[@Anna-BoBanna]

I've just about finished my spring clean up in the garden. All I've got left is to divide my bananas.

[@paultsworld]

I’ll check my bananas soon - one, the maurelli has been in the bath all Winter 😀

[@kayraakin5759]

çok güzel çiçekli bahçeniz beğeniyle izliyorum türkiyeden sevgiler selamlar😊

[@paultsworld]

Thank you, greetings to Turkey. İyi günler, bahçe çiçeklerini beğenmenize sevindim. Türkiye'ye selamlar 🌻

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

Great video to watch, informative and entertaining 🙂 We are going to move soon to our new house and I can't wait for my adopted lacecap hydrangea to be planted back in the clay soil. At the moment there doesn't seem to be much activity, but I'm hoping it will spring right back up. So it has to hang on tight for just a little bit longer🤞🏻 The other adopted smaller mophead Hydrangea is doing much better and seem to be very happy in the pot. I will put it in the clay soil next autumn. I also made a video about the new garden. It would be nice if you had the time to have a look🙂👍🏻 Best regards, Titia

[@paultsworld]

Hi Titia, good luck with your hydrangeas! Make sure you use plenty of ericaceous compost for those lacecaps and mopheads. I will certainly have a look at your new video.

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

@@paultsworld I didn't thought of that, I will look into it. Eraecasious (?) means acidic? The soil here is fairly high in ph, because my blue mophead in the previous garden turned out dark pink with purple spots. I will do a soil test soon at our local garden centre. My lace cap hydrangea has the same bright pink colour as your lace caps. I will do my best to bring it back in good health, since it had a lot of stress and the heat wave didn't helped either. Poor thing😔

[@paultsworld]

They can be OK in high Ph soil but they are happiest in neutral to slightly acidic. If the leaves look good then it’s happy - any yellowing then it possibly wants lower Ph.

[@nadezhdabeljaeva4670]

Спасибо Вам.

[@paultsworld]

It's my pleasure.

[@elliepaske2062]

I love the fact that your videos are so informative. I planted three new mop head hydrangeas last year but I’m worried that they were too young to withstand the bitterly cold snaps we’ve had. They don’t appear to have any new green buds on them yet. Hope your experiment works Paul. 🤞

[@paultsworld]

Thank you Ellie, I do hope your young hydrangeas survive. It was a cold Winter but don’t give up on them too quickly as there’s always a chance they’ll sprout from just below soil level.

[@RoseMary-vs3io]

Useful video as per usual, thank you👌✨

[@paultsworld]

Thank you! 🌻

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS PAUL, FOR BEING SUCH A BRAVE GARDNER 😊…we look 👀 forward to see how your experiment turns out 💚💚💚also including your ENGLISH ROBIN 🐦 much smaller than our’s in OHIO

[@paultsworld]

Hi Budget Audiophile, yes - our robin is really small! All the best.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

@@paultsworld STILL A BEAUTY 😁🤗

[@paultsworld]

Certainly is! 👍

[@erics8757]

Watching parts of this video hurt 😬 but I can't wait to see the results!

[@paultsworld]

Going to be a great summer for blooms 🤞

[@joannecraft-lane8660]

Thank you for posting this video because I'm planning to add hydrangeas to my garden this year.

[@paultsworld]

I love hydrangeas - and they’ll flower for you beautifully.

[@englishwithanerudite]

Thank you for a very interesting lesson!

[@paultsworld]

You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed the video. 🌻

[@englishwithanerudite]

@@paultsworld You're welcome. I've changed the comment ;-)

[@paultsworld]

👍😀🌸

[@paulinecrispin121]

Hi Paul, I have been waiting for this. I have been itching to deadhead and prune my hydrangeas. I kept having to say to myself....hang on until Paul says it is OK. So, yippee, I just done them all this afternoon 😃

[@paultsworld]

Hello Pauline, you’re ahead of me now because there’s one in the lawn bed I forgot about 😀 I’ll bet your hydrangeas all look very smart now and ready for Summer! A good compost mulch and/or slow release fertiliser and they’ll be blooming all Summer - I love hydrangeas! 🌻

[@paulinecrispin121]

Thanks for the compost tip

[@aleenasunny3441]

Hi Paul, I am a regular viewer of your videos and absolutely enjoyed each of them. My parents in law hVe visited us from India this week and are very keen to learn about gardening and vlogging in the UK. Is it possible for us to visit/get in touch with you sometime? Please do let me know. Thanks in advance

[@paultsworld]

Hello Aleena, thank you for your message and I’m pleased you enjoy my videos. How nice your parents-in-law are visiting you and that they are interested in gardening and vlogging. Unfortunately I don’t have my garden open but there are many people who have open days for visitors. Have you heard of the NGS open garden scheme? Over 3,500 gardeners open their private gardens for a day - there will be one near you and it’s a great way to see private gardens and talk to the owners. Google it and find one that is convenient to visit - I’m sure it will be of great interest to your parents-in-law. If you have specific questions I’d be delighted to try and answer.

[@brooke1615]

I’m interested to see how your experiment pans out. I bought a French bolero and a runaway bride last year. I’m not sure on the deadheading of these but I think I’m going to use your guide with the big leaf and see how it goes.

[@paultsworld]

These are beautiful lacecaps. Yes, just deadhead last year's blooms as I did on the mophead and lacecaps, leaving the new buds to flower for you this Summer. Give them a mulch and feed and they're set for Summer.

[@jimbailey3705]

I have also managed to prune all but one of my paniculata's. I will have to do that this weekend - the buds are look a bit green! I do want to prune it though as there is a lot of spindly growth and I do prefer the larger blooms that grow on the strong stems. I am trying to encourage mine to become as large as possible though, so it's more a case of thinning out the weak branches rather than 'pruning' for height. Can't wait for summer! And I really need to take some hydranga cuttings for propagation soon! I heard Spring cuttings get started a lot quicker than Autumn cuttings.

[@paultsworld]

It’s been quite a Winter! Summer can’t come soon enough! As you are taking secateurs to the paniculatas maybe take some cuttings as well? I think Spring/early Summer is a good time to take paniculata cuttings then you have time for them to develop. I did a few last year - not as easy as mopheads but I still had about 40% success rate. For mopheads & lacecaps I’m waiting till mid Summer.

[@jimbailey3705]

@@paultsworld Yeah, you're right. I may as well take cuttings while I'm pruning/thinning them out. And thanks for letting me know that the paniculatas are harder to propagate, I will take start more cuttings to make sure I get enough. I just need a couple to go to my in-law's! They currently have mop heads, but they don't water them in summer... and they keep pruning them whenever they feel like it. I think paniculatas will just work better for them.

[@paultsworld]

You’re right - once paniculatas get going they’re pretty much indestructible!

[@daigaermane8977]

❤❤❤❤🎉😊

[@paultsworld]

Thank you 🌻

[@Marcielle_Makes]

I’m just starting to learn about gardening. Why do you wait until spring to cut off the dead blooms? Is it bad if I cut all the fresh blooms to give away? So happy to have found you in shorts. Thank you for sharing your passion

[@paultsworld]

That’s a really good question. I wait till Spring because it looks nice over Winter, it helps protect the shrub from the cold. However if you want to use your blooms in the house or to give away that’s absolutely fine as well. Your plants won’t mind losing fresh blooms and it might then grow extra ones as a bonus. Many people enjoy fresh blooms in the house as cut flowers. Definitely enjoy your plants the way you want to. Thank you for letting me know you found me from shorts as I’m new to them and wondering if I should do more.

[@Marcielle_Makes]

@@paultsworld yes! Please do more. I’ve found a bunch of new creators and learned things I never even knew about and never would have thought to look into, had it not been for shorts. Your little clip was the perfect teaser and now I’m subscribed and will be binging your content while I’m cooking or cleaning.

[@paultsworld]

Thank you for telling me that - it has given me encouragement to do more - they’re fun to do. Yes, please join me while doing the cooking 😀👍

[@andrzejkaraszewski8671]

😀❤️💚

[@paultsworld]

👍🌻

[@martiknapp762]

Thanks Paul T. I think my area is a good 4 to 6 weeks behind you. When and how do you fertilize them?

[@paultsworld]

Hi Marti, I fertilise them just after deadheading or pruning and the buds are starting - the plants then want some goodness and water. I give them a good mulch of compost with a handful of slow release fertiliser mixed in. They’re then set for the season.

[@wendychandler8304]

Feb. 2024, the sun has come out at last and shrubs are massive after all the rain. Need to take back my hydrangeas; how are yours Paul?

[@paultsworld]

Yes, a lovely day today Wendy - I was out videoing the enormous flocks of birds at Parkgate during today’s big Spring tide. I’ll be out this week checking on the hydrangeas - I see the buds are out on the mopheads, I think it’s been a warm - but rainy February so I can imagine your hydrangeas are all looking good - let’s hope we don’t get prolonged droughts this Summer.

[@robshaw3655]

Dec 23 now and i have a large lacecap.that wasnt dead headed after they had flowered..is it best to leave to spring?

[@paultsworld]

Yes, just leave it till Spring and then after your main frosts are over prune it back to a nice big bud. That’s what I do every year.

[@ThePegasus101]

i heard if u got blue hydrangeas and want pink,u add iron nails to the soil...

[@paultsworld]

Quite possibly. Acidic soil encourages mophead and lacecap hydeangeas to be blue and alkaline soil makes them pink.