"Barry & Iris McCanna" wrote in message
...

"Ian Butler" wrote in message
...
Hi

I have a Hydrangea which still has dead heads on it should I remove
them now
the buds are coming through?

Also I believe to make them flower blue they need certain soil
conditions,
is there
anything I can do to help this?

Thanks Ian


Ian,

I never touch them until early to mid-March as the heads are a
protection against frost. Also I follow Geoff Hamilton's advice
that hydrangeas prune themselves in that you only cut back to the
first bud. I do take out any dead wood though. We have huge
hydrangeas here and, following this advice, they are always smothered
in blooms. Our soil is acid and this is what makes them so blue.
We have all shades of blue going to almost a navy.

Regards
Iris McCanna


My hydrangea produces both pink and blue flowers on the same plant.
Unfortunately, it now seems to be approaching the end of its life - last
year there were just a handful of flowering stems. I tried taking cuttings
and one appeared to take root but did not survive more than a few months.
If there is any growth this year, has anyone suggestions about how to be
more successful in taking cuttings that will thrive, please ?

Bevan