I recently moved into a new property with two very mature gardens, and coming from a place without any garden, managing them has been quite a challenge! I'm learning as I go, but I'm a bit confused about when to start trimming back my plants. Specifically, I have some hydrangeas that are quite mature along with some I planted this spring. There are also a lot of rose bushes that seem leggy but look nice overall. Everything currently looks a bit messy, and I've read that some plants shouldn't be trimmed back until after winter. Also, some of the perennial plants I bought look dead—should I cut them back and hope they return next year? Sorry if these questions seem silly; I didn't realize how demanding gardening could be!
1 Answer
First off, be cautious about strimming around hedgehogs since they're quite active this time of year. For hydrangeas, it really depends on the species. I personally leave the flower heads on during winter since they look beautiful and provide shelter for insects. Usually, I advise pruning for dead, diseased, or damaged parts, and wait until spring to cut back herbaceous plants and roses, typically in February. After pruning, it's a good time to add some manure and leaf mold to enrich the soil.
If you had a diseased rose bush, would you prune it now or in February?