If we want hydrangeas to remain impressive and colorful next season, we must take proper care of them before winter arrives. By mid-November, certain activities should be performed to ensure that the plant can easily survive low temperatures and wind. We explain what you need to do to prevent your hydrangea from weakening during the winter.
A common mistake made when growing hydrangeas is leaving them unprotected in the winter. This is very dangerous for them because the plant’s buds and roots are extremely sensitive and just a few cool nights with frosts are enough to have weakened and did not produce new flowers next year.
Therefore, the plants should be properly protected by mid-November at the latest, before the frosts arrive. The first step is to protect the roots, because they do not tolerate low temperatures very well. The best way to protect them is to simply make mounds of earth around the base of the bush.
Thanks to this, we will provide additional thermal insulation for the root system. It is also a good idea to spread pine bark around the specimen. You can also use coniferous tree twigs to protect hydrangeas against physiological drought.
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However, this is not the only thing we need to do with our plants. Please note that Most hydrangea varieties bloom on last year’s shoots, which are also exposed to unfavorable conditions in winter. Therefore, if we want the plant to become colorful again next season, we must also remember to protect the shoots.
For this purpose you should wrap them with agrotextile, which retains heat and protects plants from . Additionally, if our hydrangeas grow in a location exposed to strong winds, they should be covered with a net or straw.
In addition, we also need to take care of tying up the hydrangea shoots. This will protect them against breakage and damage. To do this, collect the plant’s shoots inside and then, starting from the bottom, gently wrap them with a special gardening tape. However, be careful not to tie them too tightly so as not to restrict the natural movements of the plant under the influence of the wind. Only then can we cover the tied shoots with agrotextile.
