Not all hydrangeas require wintering. Only two varieties are sensitive to low temperatures. We need to protect them before the first frosts arrive. Check what plants we mean and what exactly needs to be done with them.
Bouquet and climbing hydrangeas have become resistant to low temperatures, so they can withstand frost without any problems. We cannot say the same about garden and oak-leafed varieties – these plants need to be protected for the winter.
It is therefore necessary to cover their shoots and roots. If we do not perform this treatment in November, the bushes will freeze. In the worst case, they will be completely wasted and will not bloom at all in spring.
It may happen that, despite covering, individual hydrangea shoots may freeze, which is completely normal. They will then need to be removed.
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First of all, we need to protect the shoots and stems of garden and oak-leaf hydrangeas. These plant parts are particularly exposed to difficult weather conditions, i.e. negative temperatures, snowfall and frosty wind.
That is why they should be covered with agrotextile which is a specialized garden material intended to protect specimens for the winter. On the one hand, it protects against difficult weather conditions, and on the other, it provides plants with access to water and sunlight.
How to protect hydrangea shoots for the winter? We tightly wrap the bushes with agrotextile and cover the material with the top. Finally, we tie it around the roots so that it does not come undone. However, do not squeeze the plants too tightly, as this will result in mechanical damage to them.
In November, we also need to carry out root mounding. We use materials for this purpose, such as peat, bark or even pine cones. They should be created with an insulating layer.
How to dig up hydrangea roots? We make a 30-40 cm high mound around them. Place leaves or dry twigs on the insulating layer.
Remember to remove the mound in spring, i.e. at the turn of March and April, when there is no longer the risk of night frosts. After this treatment, we scatter it around the specimens to nourish the soil and supply the plants with valuable nutrients.
