Now that the months are cooler, you’ll need to know how to winterize your hydrangea plant. Hydrangeas are easy to care for and look stunning all year round with their vibrant blooms. But while these plants are generally very hardy, freezing temperatures and cold winds can cause some damage. This is why putting these plants to bed is just as important as knowing How to prune a hydrangea plant. In fact, if you notice wilting flowers in hydrangeas, it may be time to destroy them—here’s how to get rid of dead hydrangeas.
While learning how to winterize hydrangeas seems very difficult, it is actually not so difficult to do. Once you know the method, you can reuse the same supplies on an annual basis to help your flowers thrive. Once your hydrangea plants are hibernating, you can then focus on other projects as well, such as How does a Christmas tree grow. So here’s how to prepare a hydrangea for winter in a few simple steps.
Before proceeding with these steps, it is important to emphasize that the best method will depend on your climate and the type of hydrangea you want to protect. The colder your area and the more delicate the plant is, the more attention it needs.
If the temperature isn’t likely to dip below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, you don’t need to cover it up for example, but more watering will likely be necessary. If your temperature drops below this, you will need to provide additional protection depending on the type of hydrangea.
Also check out these key tips on what to do after it snows in the garden and here’s how to remove snow from a windshield without damaging it.
What you will need
sawdust
fresh manure
Burlap or a breathable alternative (optional)
wire frame or cage (optional)
If hydrangeas bloom on new wood, such as soft hydrangea, hydrangea paniculata, and Peegee hydrangea, you’re in luck because they are very hardy and won’t need much attention—that is, unless your temperature drops below -30 degrees Fahrenheit. However, hydrangea plants that thrive on older woods, including mopheads, lacecaps, big leaf and Hydrangea Macophylla, will need to be treated.
How to prepare winter hydrangea
1. Watering your hydrangea
It can be easy to forget this time of year, but your hydrangea plants will still need watering occasionally. The amount of water you use and how regularly you use it depends largely on your climate.
If you can’t handle freezing temperatures and there is little rain, water the hydrangea well once a month. You can always check the soil if you’re not sure – if you feel bone dry you can do so with some water. If the ground freezes or it snows often, you should not worry about watering the hydrangea.
2. Put in some fresh manure
It’s a good idea to give hydrangeas a nutritional boost before winter hits. By applying some fresh compost to your hydrangea, it will degrade during the cooler months and give your hydrangeas access to fresh nutrients in the spring. This will keep your hydrangea plant healthy and give it a boost in spring, too.
3. Cover with mulch
If you live in a cooler climate, using mulch may be necessary. This sits on top of the soil and acts as insulation for the roots. You want to apply a layer of mulch approximately six to eight inches around the base of the plant to be effective.
Mulch is useful in temperate climates as well because it helps the soil retain its moisture. You can use straw or fallen leaves for this. Despite this, be sure to wait until late fall or early winter to apply mulch, as its warmth can attract rodents and critters.
4. Wrapped up warm
If you are sheltering hydrangea plants that bloom on old wood and live in a very cold area (below 0 degrees Fahrenheit), covering your plants may be necessary. You will need to wrap the plants loosely but tightly in a few layers of burlap.
It’s important to give the plants some room to breathe, but you also want the layers to be secured with twine or string so the wind doesn’t catch them. There are alternatives available to burlap, but you should not use plastic because the material needs to breathe. If you don’t have any on hand, we recommend the Natural Burlap Fabric ($17.99, Amazon (Opens in a new tab)).
5. Build a frame
If your plant is small and you’re concerned that the burlap layers are too heavy for it, you can put a frame around it instead, such as a wire cage. Then fill it with mulch and wrap the cage in burlap instead.
If you live in a snowy area, the tire is also useful for keeping snow away from your hydrangea. If a lot of snow falls, its weight can damage your plants, so it’s worth planning.
6. Move to a warmer mode
If the hydrangea is in a pot, we recommend moving it to a warmer place, such as a greenhouse, or at least near a wall to protect it from frost and wind. If the pot is too large for this, you can cover it with burlap by following the steps above depending on the crispness of the hydrangea.
When Should You Prepare Winter Hydrangea?
If you’re expecting frost during the winter, you’ll want to start prepping your hydrangeas at the end of fall, so now is perfect. If you live in a milder climate, you don’t need to take many steps, but you should still start preparing for your hydrangeas to winter.
If you live in a very cold area and have to wrap hydrangeas due to regular frosts, remove the layers only in early spring—be prepared to put them back in if the temperature drops again.
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