- Fall pruning is a common mistake that can harm plants and deprive them of flowers next year.
- Understanding the specificity of individual hydrangea species is crucial for their proper care and wintering.
- Discover proven methods of preparing hydrangeas for winter to ensure abundant flowering in the coming season!
Why shouldn’t you cut hydrangeas in autumn?
Pruning hydrangeas in autumn weakens the plant, which is preparing to rest at this time of year. Removing shoots at this time disrupts the hardening process, i.e. natural adaptation to lower temperatures. The plant becomes more susceptible to frost. The inflorescences and leaves left behind serve an insulating function. They protect the buds from frost and wind. Removing them in autumn deprives the plant of its natural cover, which may lead to tissue damage and the death of shoots. Moreover, many varieties of hydrangeas, especially garden hydrangeas, produce flower buds already at the end of summer and autumn. They are located at the ends of the shoots and remain dormant throughout the winter. Fall pruning removes these buds, which means the plant will not flower the following season. Not all hydrangeas react the same to pruning. Bouquet hydrangea and bush hydrangea bloom on this year’s shoots, so they can be pruned in early spring. However, garden and climbing hydrangeas bloom on last year’s shoots, so cutting them in autumn almost guarantees a lack of flowers the next year.
When to prune hydrangeas?
Depending on the species, we prune hydrangeas in a different way and at different times. According to experts, the best time to cut garden hydrangeas is from March to April. After frost, when the plant begins to put out leaves. It is important to remove only dry inflorescences and shoots. In the case of bouquet hydrangea, we remove faded inflorescences in March, but only after frost, but before the beginning of vegetation. Cut the shoots into 2/3 of their length. We prune bush hydrangea in a similar way – in March, after frost, before the leaves come out, we cut all shoots at a height of 25 cm from the ground. Hairy and climbing hydrangea do not require pruning. Just remove any dry or damaged twigs.
How to winter hydrangeas?
There are many varieties of hydrangeas, and some of them cope with frost very well. Some, however, need to be protected for the winter. We are talking about a capricious garden hydrangea that needs to be properly wintered. Less effort will be required for bouquet and bush hydrangeas. Varieties that tolerate low temperatures well include Vanille Fraise, which can be stored even at -28 degrees Celsius. However, it is important to remember that the hydrangea should be in a sunny position, sheltered from the wind. The same applies to the varieties of bouquet hydrangeas: Little Lime, Grandiflora and Limelight, which winter easily even at temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius. If we want to protect the flowers so that we can enjoy them in subsequent seasons, we gradually reduce watering in autumn. It is worth planning the wintering itself only when the first frosts come. This will help the hydrangeas harden off. At the end of November, cover the lower part of the shoots and roots with a mound of pine bark or soil mixed with compost. Ultimately, it may also be the land itself. Additionally, we wrap the shoots with agrotextile, which will protect the bushes against low temperatures and moisture loss. We do not water hydrangeas in winter. In spring, we gradually remove the protection, water it, fertilize it, prune it and wait until it blooms profusely. Wintering hydrangeas planted in pots is similar to protecting flowers against winter in the garden. The difference is that you need to take more care of the roots. It is worth covering the pots with Styrofoam or straw and moving the bush to a quiet place with access to the sun. The upper part of the hydrangea must be wrapped with agrotextile. Hydrangeas in pots should remain covered until the frosts stop. We start watering hydrangeas in spring.
Recommended article:
