By Cubster
United Kingdom 
I bought several hydrangeas last spring online and received very small plants. 3 of these I planted near a hedge (2 in large pots). they have grown very leggy and straggly. Should I cut them back to promote bushing or is it too late (buds are coming up right to top of the stems. I don't mind loosing this years flowers if next year I get a lovely bushy plant... (ps I have moved the pots away from hedge as I assume they went up for light)
28 Mar, 2011
Answers
If you have Hydrangea "Anabelle" you should cut it in March down to the first pair of buds. Then it grows thickly and has a lot of flowers. The rest of Hydrangeas you should cut as it was told above, just above the highest pair of buds.
28 Mar, 2011
Bamboo - just cashing in here on the question - what are hydrangeas' basic requirements as mine don't seem to do too well here, thank you :-)
28 Mar, 2011
They like moist but well drained soil which has been enriched with plenty of composted materials - most prefer dappled shade to full sun. Feed in Spring with something like Vitax Q4 and apply a thick mulch at the base.
29 Mar, 2011
Katarina, thanks for the tip about Annabel - I will zip out and do it tomorrow!
29 Mar, 2011
Excellent Bamboo, thank you, I can supply these conditions, I'll give it a go.
29 Mar, 2011
Depending on the size of pot and the particular variety of Hydrangea, they may need repotting, but as for pruning, this shouldn't be done before April anyway, after signs of growth have begun, and pruning consists of removing any dead wood, dead tips and last year's flowerheads. Feed the ones in pots regularly during the growing season and keep them watered as necessary.
28 Mar, 2011