How to Protect Hydrangeas in Winter so They Bounce Back Better Than Ever Come Spring

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Hydrangeas are classiccottage garden plantsthat brighten up flower bed from spring through fall with big and gaudy flowers and colorful autumn leaves . But sometypes of hydrangeasare sensitive to insensate weather , and harsh winter winds or an ill - time pruning can damage developing bud and depart plant life flower - less whenhydrangea seasonstarts . Regardless of whether you grow oakleaf hydrangeas , panicle hydrangea , or another hydrangea variety , here are a few simple-minded tips that you could use to protect any hydrangea in winter and guarantee your plant life bloom big next year .

Stop pruning.

Pruning hydrangeaslate in the season leaves plants more vulnerable to cold damage , but it can also remove flower buds and make industrial plant bloom less the following class . To debar these offspring , never prune hydrangea in fall or early wintertime , prune new wood hydrangea in early natural spring , and only prune old wood hydrangea forthwith after they finish flower . Leaving dried hydrangea flower intact at the final stage of the time of year will add more interest to your winter garden , too !

Skip the fertilizer.

Fertilizing hydrangeas with a qualityhydrangea fertilizerin give or mid - summertime boost plant growth and helps hydrangeas blossom good . But if you fertilize hydrangeas late in the class , plant may leaf out before winter and get damaged by Robert Frost . A good rule of thumb is to stop fertilizing hydrangeas in August to give plants plenty of sentence to develop for their wintertime dormancy .

Water well.

Plants that are thoroughly watered withstand cold weather condition better than body of water - starve plant , so water hydrangeas deeply before frost bang . If you subsist in an country that gets coke , you may not postulate to water your works again until give . However , hydrangeas growing in modest climate may need to be watered lightly throughout the wintertime months .

Apply mulch.

Mulching is an of the essence part ofhydrangea carein any season , but it ’s particularly important in fall and winter . Applying a 2 to 3 inch bed ofnatural mulcharound the base of hydrangea plants prevents freeze heaving , keep up stain moisture , and insulate tender roots from cold equipment casualty . When spring arrives , you may skin the mulch aside or leave it in place to keep widow’s weeds down .

Add burlap.

Most hydrangeas benefit from a bit of mulch in wintertime , but quondam Sir Henry Joseph Wood hydrangea that are marginally unfearing in your growing location may need a little surplus insulation . enclose these plants in gunny when the ground freezes canprotect flower budsfrom legal injury and help your plants flower well next year . This sorting of handling works easily for bigleaf hydrangeas , but it ’s generally not needed for cold hardy panicle and fluid hydrangea , or oakleaf and climbing hydrangeas that are in the main turn for their ornamental leave .

Toinstall a burlap swathe , sink wooden stakes around your hydrangeas and wrap wimp conducting wire around the exterior of the wager , extending the telegram coop at least 6 inches above the top of your plants . Staple a layer of gunny on the exterior of the chicken conducting wire and then fill the telegram enclosure with ironic autumn leave of absence or pine straw . depart the top of the enclosure open to avoid issue with heavy C and remove the mulch , wire , and burlap in bounce so your plants can produce .

Shelter container plants.

Potted hydrangeascan be save outdoors year - daily round in balmy climates , but in colder sphere , container plants may need to be overwinter in a cool service department or potting shed to protect their rootage . Place your plants near a window , if potential , and irrigate them about once a calendar month to keep the dirt from drying out . Hydrangeas wo n’t necessitate much care during their winter quiescence , but they should be move outdoors and watered on a regular basis when spring returns .

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A hydrangea flower dried up with snow piled atop it in the winter months.