- Hydrangeas, Queen of Polish Gardens, require proper care in autumn to delight with flowers for many years.
- Not all hydrangea species are resistant to frosts – some require special protection against winter.
- Find out when and how to protect hydrangeas so that they bloom lush next season and avoid errors in autumn care!
Hydrangea is the queen of Polish gardens. Her large and magnificent flowers decorate plots and parks. Well -nurtured hydrangeas can bloom for many years. Garden hydrangeas come from Japan and came to Europe only in the 70s. From that moment they have become one of the most popular decorative shrubs in the gardens.
How to take care of hydrangea in autumn. Hydrite wintering
Popular bouquet hydrangea species are rather resistant to frosts and winter weather conditions. Hydrangeas are pretty good tolerate temperatures and are why they are so eagerly bred in Poland. In spring and summer they bloom lush and can bloom until late autumn. Sometimes, however, hydrangea does not bloom. A Japanese friend showed me why this could happen. Many of hydrangeas bloom on last year’s shoots.
Hydrite wintering. What species do you need to cover?
First of all, young plants should be secured against winter. They are not fully educated the root system and they need additional support. In the case of long -term shrubs, not all species require winter protection.
Garden hydrangea
This is a species that is characterized by the least resistance to weather conditions. It tolerates frosts and winds badly. Garden hydrangeas bloom on last year’s shoots that can be destroyed by winter, and therefore will not bloom in the spring.
Hydrangea
This variety also requires winter covering. It is not very resistant and may freeze.
Bouquet hydrangea
This is one of the most popular hydrangea varieties that can be found in Polish gardens. It is quite resistant to frosts and long -term bushes do not require covering. It is worth protecting the roots of young plants.
Climbing hydrangea
Also, this species is frost -resistant and does not require additional protection against winter.
How to protect hydrangeas for the winter?
First of all, it is worth knowing that hydrangea should not be protected too early. It is best to wait with this treatment until the first frost. Lower temperatures will help you harden the bush and make hydrangea more resistant to weather conditions. At this time, watering and fertilization should be reduced so as not to artificially extend the growing season. Otherwise, the plant will not be ready for the winter and may start quickly. According to a Japanese friend, the best date is the end of November. At this time, you should especially take care of two places at hydrangea. The first of them are the lower shoots and roots. They should be properly protected against freezing. The bark mound built around the roots will work best for this. Another important step in preparing hydrangea for winter is to protect shoots. They should be thoroughly and tightly wrapped with agrotextile. The material perfectly protects against frosts and wind, and also protects against moisture loss. This is how the preparation of hydrangea will survive the winter, and in spring it will be ready for flowering.
Covering the roots of hydrangea
It is the entire root system that is most sensitive to low temperatures. The most important preparation procedure for wintering hydrangea is the creation of small mounds around the roots. This operation will provide an insulation layer and will make the temperature around the roots higher. In addition, coniferous branches should be spread around hydrangea. They will keep moisture and not allow the soil to dry.
Should hydrangeas be cut in autumn?
One of the most common mistakes in. Gardeners indicate that autumn is not a deadline for cutting hydrangeas. Before winter, it is only worth removing old and withered shoots. Most of the hydrangea varieties April on last year’s shoots, therefore, pruning them can affect the number of flowers in the next season. Cutting hydrangea is best done in early spring before the vegetation season
