Hydrangeas will bloom bigger if gardeners do 1 job in June

They are the much-loved deciduous hardy shrubs, with their striking flowerheads in vibrant shades of blues, lilacs and pretty pinks.

Hydrangeas are a staple of British gardens thanks to the UK's climate, characterised by mild summers and consistent moisture, making ideal conditions for this showstopper shrub to thrive.

They are beloved for providing massive, long-lasting summer blooms, creating the lush, textured aesthetic popular in modern floral design.

And while the huge bushes are undoubtedly impressive, there are also compact varieties that suit smaller spaces or containers which means there's a hydrangea for every garden.

However with garden trees now in full leaf, June is the ideal time to check on one simple thing for your hydrangeas if you want them to look their best all summer long.

With garden trees and shrubs now in full leaf, June is the ideal time to check that your hydrangeas are getting the dose of sunshine they need.

As one of Britain's best flowering shrubs, most hydrangeas are happy in partial shade, but too much dense shade for long periods can reduce the number of blooms produced.

"Ideal light conditions for hydrangeas are several hours of direct morning sun with afternoon shade, or dappled shade that allows plenty of bright indirect light,' says gardening expert Janet Louhrey, a gardening expert for homesandgardens.com

"If surrounding foliage is starving a hydrangea of sunlight, consider thinning out some branches to open up the canopy" she says.

"Cut back branches of up to 1 inch diameter."

Of course, if your hydrangea is container grown, you can simply pick up its pot or planter and move it to sunnier position.

There is one other thing gardeners can do to make sure their hydrangeas stay in full bloom this summer according to the BBC's Gardeners World Magazine.

They report that most hydrangeas are pruned in spring, between March and April. Leaving their flower heads on over winter helps protect this year's new buds from frost by encouraging a barrier of slightly warmer air over them.

However climbing hydrangeas are the exception to this rule – they are pruned, if at all, in late summer after flowering. This avoids damaging the flowers and gives the plant time to grow new wood for next year's blooms.

They say: "Pruning prevents hydrangeas becoming woody and congested, and channels the plant's energy into producing strong growth and large blooms. After pruning, mulch the plant with well rotted manure or compost, which will help it to grow back strongly."

Generally Hydrangeas do best in moist, free-draining soil and dappled shade – not too sunny and not too shady, GardenersWorld.com reports.

"Hydrangeas will thrive in most soil types, including alkaline and acidic soil. However, the pH of the soil will change the colour of the flowers of some varieties. Some plants that usually offer pink flowers will appear blue if the soil is acidic." they report.

And although most gardeners will have planted their hydrangeas by now, it is still possible to do so in June - you'll just have to water more often to avoid the plant drying out before its roots can establish.