How To Prepare Your Hydrangeas For Winter The Right Way, According To Experts

by John Griffith Nov 8, 2022 @ 11:07

Hydrangeas fully bloomed is a colorful and beautiful sight. However, as winter is just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing this delicate, aromatic flower for the harsh conditions that await it. If you want to enjoy your hydrangea’s beauty next spring, you need to properly take care of this year’s buds. If you don’t, then the flower will simply not bloom. That’s why we’ve collected advice from professional gardeners on how to prepare your hydrangeas for winter, so you will ensure that nothing will stand in their way of blooming next season.

Hydrangeas fully bloomed is a colorful and beautiful sight

In this article
How To Prepare Your Hydrangeas For Winter
#Clean Up
#Watering
#Light Pruning
#Compost
#Mulch
#Wrap Them Up
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How To Prepare Your Hydrangeas For Winter

While hydrangeas are kind of hardy and frost-resistant, freezing winter temperatures can push this flowery bush into dormancy. That is why it will need to be prepared to take these harsh conditions head on. Winterizing hydrangeas is the best way to ensure they survive and thrive the next spring. And on the bright side, the process isn’t all that hard. Here what you need to do to properly protect your hydrangeas, both above ground and the root system.

While hydrangeas are kind of hardy, freezing temperatures can push them into dormancy

#Clean Up

Before you take on any action for getting your hydrangeas ready, you need to clean up the garden beds. A fall clean-up is a must for any gardener. Make sure you clean up any weeds from your hydrangeas garden beds, get rid of other debris, such as fallen leaves, twigs and so on. Cleaning the garden bed up helps to keep the plants healthy and stops any potential diseases from spreading as well as removing any possible fungal formations.

A fall clean-up is a must for any gardener

#Watering

Many gardeners are afraid to water their flowers during the cold weather. However, when it comes to hydrangeas, it’s best to water them regularly and deeply until the first frost of the season arrives. This way you will ensure the root system is able to retain all the moisture it will need to get through the winter. Applying plenty of moisture during the fall will ensure the stems are able to withstand any freezing air that tries to blast them.

It’s best to water them regularly and deeply until the first frost of the season arrives

#Light Pruning

The debate on whether you should prune your hydrangeas or not is quite heated. This is because you may accidentally remove any flower buds that are emerging for the following season. And while most hydrangeas should be pruned in the spring, there are some types which would benefit from a light pruning during the fall. Old wood blooming hydrangeas, such as bigleaf ones, lacecap ones, climbing ones or mophead ones, should be trimmed a little. Just remove any damaged or dead flower heads, flower buds or branches you see. This will help it boom more prodigiously next spring.

The debate on whether you should prune your hydrangeas or not is quite heated

#Compost

Once the beginning of winter has comes, it’s time to start preparing the soil. It needs to be stacked up on plenty of nutrients to keep your flowers nice and healthy. While it is not recommended to add fertilizer, as it can cause a late season growth spurt, gardeners do suggest putting some compost in your garden beds. This will give enough nutrients to the soil as well as strength without giving them the push to grow as chemical fertilizers would.

Once the beginning of winter has comes, it’s time to start preparing the soil

#Mulch

Now that the soil has been enriched, it’s time to ensure the roots stay nice and warm during the cold winter temperatures. How? Well just add a thick layer of mulch (at least several inches) onto the soil, around the base of the plant. Mulch not only keeps the ground warm, it also helps to keep weeds away, retain moisture, and it looks really nice! While you can use the same mulch you use during spring time, it won’t give you the best results. So, go for a mulch that has straw or dried oak leaves for that extra protection.

Ensure the roots stay nice and warm during the cold winter temperatures with mulch

#Wrap Them Up

If you live in an area where the winter winds cut like knives, it’s best to create a physical barrier that will protect the plants. Just make a DIY-frame wire cage from chicken wire filled with straw, or dried leaves and leftover wooden planks and then wrap some foil or fabric around it. You can also buy plant bags from your local gardening center. Just make sure the “cage” can withstand heavy rains and snowfall throughout the winter season. Also make sure the “cage” is making NO contact with the plant, in order to avoid breaking or rubbing any bubs or branches.

Here is how to use a plant bag to protect the hydrangea

This was how to prepare your hydrangeas for winter the right way, according to professional gardeners. We hope you found this article useful. Now you won’t have to worry about your delicate hydrangeas dying during the harsh, cold months, and you will enjoy their beautiful bloom during spring once again.

This was how to prepare your hydrangeas for winter the right way

Sources:

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.