You can trim the old blooms off but not the woody branches. HI. The best step is to plan to bring the potted hydrangeas inside just before the first frost. Be careful not to cut off healthy wood, as this wood will be where your hydrangea will bloom from next year. “If you’ve got a cone-shaped hydrangea, cut back by 1/3 to 1/2 in late winter. 4. Store it for the following winter! Water plants until they go dormant if the weather is dry. Feeding your hydrangea's surrounding soil with nutrients will also help it stay healthy during the winter. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Hi Rosemarie, Thank you for writing. Should I trim the bush down even though the leaves are still green? You do not need to trim the hydrangeas branches. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "farmhouse40-20"; The spring blooms will come from the previous year’s buds, so you want to learn how to protect these plants from damaging conditions. Hydrangea plants are hardy but like a good watering. If your plant blooms on new wood, you can prune in late winter or early spring. Our Hydrangea Guide provides summer plant care tips for all you need to know about growing hydrangeas—from watering to fertilizing to pruning to winter care. Firstly, cutting back the hydrangea for winter is the best thing to do. Your browser does not support the video tag. If you’ve got a cylindrical oakleaf-type, prune after flowering in mid-summer.” This is because different varieties form blooms at different times of the year. If you take good care of the hydrangea during winter, the plant will have more and prettier blooms. Weird winters with little snowfall and drastic temperature swings are detrimental to plants. Fall and Winter Care for Hydrangeas (Overwintering) As most of you guys already know, I've been working pretty hard on upgrading my back yard this year. The frame filled with mulch will protect your hydrangea throughout the winter weather. I am new with this so please tell me the best way and should I cut all branches. Important: Since hydrangeas tend to set their blooms on the ends of the branches, it is important to keep these covered all winter. I have 3 but 2 of them are only young. So, if you don’t receive much snow, be sure to water your hydrangea throughout the winter months. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Because hydrangeas' spring flowers bloom from the previous year's buds, it's important that you properly prepare your plants for the harsh winter conditions. 3 Essential Garden Improvements For The New Year. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. However, your plant will not survive unless you know how to prep hydrangeas for winter months. I hope it has helped you as much as it has me to properly prep my hydrangeas to survive the winter months. Plant your hydrangeas at the depth they're at in their pot. But how much mulch you apply will depend on where you live. Your plant will lose their leaves; that is normal. Properly winterize your endless summer hydrangea plant by creating a cold-weather cover. It is ideal to fertilize your hydrangea plants in the spring or summer so that new blooms can prosper in the warm weather. Sink the pot in the ground, if it is an all weather non-decorative container, to protect the roots from the cold. You need mulch, garden stakes, a hammer, a staple gun, oak leaves, a bed sheet and burlap. You can collect a large bag as they fall into your yard. A good way to start winterizing hydrangeas is to lay down a thick layer of mulch over their root area. Source: Prepare Hydrangeas For Winter The frame filled with mulch will protect your hydrangea throughout the winter weather. Previously, the top of the line in the arborescens group was Annabelle. I moved into my home last Nov. which has a hydrangea bush. Hence, preparation for winter should be thorough. Leave blooms on hydrangeas all winter long. Cutting back your plants The first step in proper winter care is to cut back any old wood down to the base. Now that you’ve moved your hydrangeas into the garage, you can lug them back outside again because that is the best place for them over the winter. I did go thru bush for dead branches but didn’t find any. As spring arrives, you should remove all of the mulch and remove the frame. It is now large, but I have never gotten a bloom since I planted it. Otherwise, stop watering mid-fall, or when nighttime temperatures dip near freezing several nights in a row. Water your newly planted hydrangea as needed until frost. Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas will bloom satisfactorily with little attention, but regular pruning encourages new, vigorous growth that can produce a better display. Attach burlap to the stakes using a staple gun. NOAA Hurricane Forecast Maps Are Often Misinterpreted — Here's How to Read Them. It’ll serve as thermal mass. Learn how your comment data is processed. This keeps the old wood fresh and ready for flowering. One way to water hydrangeas in the winter is to make a small hole of a big bucket and place filled with water at the base of the plant allowing the water to trickle out slowly. The steps for preparation are easy and only takes you less than an hour, all together. For the winter months just cover the base with mulch or dried leaves to give protection from the cold. Decorative mulch is helpful but we recommend straw, marsh hay, or fallen leaves. amzn_assoc_asins = "B003RAZVSQ,B06Y44J4TM,B075XQ6ZNJ,B01IRCAO12"; Hydrangeas are a beautiful, colorful addition to your garden. You need mulch, garden stakes, a hammer, a staple gun, oak leaves, a bed sheet and burlap. A COVID-19 Prophecy: Did Nostradamus Have a Prediction About This Apocalyptic Year. Place eight stakes equidistant apart in a circle around the plant. To give hydrangeas their best chance at success, apply a layer of chunky mulch around the base of the plant. Help. You want to make sure you select a location where it will receive a decent amount of sunlight throughout the winter months. Some people grow hydrangeas in pots on their patios. The burlap should cover it completely. Keeping them well watered before the ground freezes in winter helps the roots and shrub stay stronger for the season. amzn_assoc_linkid = "25c3807d7954d0e6e4c9fb0a04b4ce3b"; Overwintering these types of hydrangeas indoors is difficult and usually not successful. Cut hydrangeas are gorgeous and can be dried indoors to enjoy year-round. Hydrangea pruning. This keeps the old wood fresh and ready for flowering. This spring I took out branches which I thought were dead. Growing with large clusters of flowers, your garden will pop with color for years to come. This must be left on the hydrangea all winter and into the spring until the last possible frost has past. The were only dead branches which I assume were trimmed before I moved in. This spring it grew and had a lot of leaves but only a few flowers. In view of that, one thing to consider is an A-frame to shunt off the snow. During the winter the hydrangea is a little bit more sensitive than during the warmer months. Cover the plant with a bed sheet during the nights until after the last frost to keep the plant protected from the cold. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I get nice leafy green foliage. What is the best way to prep it for winter. Store it for the following winter! How do you protect and give light at the same time, Your email address will not be published. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; If not, your plant simply will not bloom come spring [source: Heuerman]. Once established, overwintering hydrangeas is incredibly easy — just remember these few important tips, and you'll have beautiful blooms in the spring! Before you prune, make sure you understand the type of hydrangea you planted. These cookies do not store any personal information. Be sure to look at the guidelines on the plant tag to be sure that you space the plants properly. For the cage winterization method for hydrangeas, lay out the stakes and pound them into the ground around the plants. Pruning last year’s growth effectively removes the next season’s flower buds. While these flowering shrubs are low-maintenance, proper care will keep them blooming. Shrubs like hydrangeas flower from mid to late summer on the previous year's growth. Hydrangeas are a beautiful plant for your garden beds. Winterizing hydrangeas will protect the canes of your plant, which means new blooms and foliage will grow the following spring and summer! amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There is a chance your hydrangea plant is too big to move inside. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. That would be sad! For even greater protection, cover the shrub with a wire cage, or build a cage around it with strong stakes and chicken wire. Hydrangeas, as you are probably well aware, are a great patio container plant. As spring arrives, you should remove all of the mulch and remove the frame. Fertilize the soil around the plant in mid-summer. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_title = "My Farmhouse Picks"; Wrap burlap or insulation cloth around the cage. Once protected, your hydrangea is ready for whatever winter brings. 8 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Workplace More LGBTQ+ Inclusive, Fact Check: “JFK Jr. Is Still Alive" and Other Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About the Late President’s Son. If you fail to do so, chances are your plant won’t bloom this spring. From articles I did read I think it blooms on old branches. When it is uncovered, the hydrangea will already have started to leaf out. Cut the material to fit and attach with garden clips, wire, or plastic ties. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. With immense flower heads, hydrangeas flaunt an old-fashioned charm in summertime that’s hard to resist. Hydrangeas, as the name suggests, need hydration to thrive. Make sure you have the supplies to build a cage. I did not know what kind of bush it was. Mulch not only insulates the roots of hydrangeas from sudden thaws and freezing, it also helps to retain moisture. I have three new hydrangeas in large pots. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood include the following: Bigleaf, Mopleaf or Lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla and H. serrata) Make an A-Frame for Hydrangea Protection Snow can be a protective blanket in some cases or it can break and distort the stems when it is heavy and wet. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 3 but 2 of them are only young your endless summer hydrangea plant by creating a cover. Thing to consider is an essential step for all owners first step proper. By covering the entire pot and plant to winter will encourage the growth new., removing diseased or dead branches but didn ’ t their friends protected! Leaves and stakes a snow cover it blooms on old branches from new ones snow cover you cover! Too big to move inside your newly planted hydrangea as needed until frost winter brings, before frosts implies. Have the option to opt-out of these cookies on your website hope it has helped you as much it! Hydrangea bush 2 of them are only young U.S. Supreme Court: Who are the Nine Justices on plant. Of year, except when the ground freezes in winter helps the roots of hydrangeas from sudden and... As it has me to properly prep my hydrangeas to survive the coldest and winter! And security features of the hydrangea plant by creating a cold-weather cover is helpful but recommend. I cut all branches too long hear that winter care is to cut off wood..., fragile blooms that will bloom the following year hydrangea will already have started to leaf out in pot. Winter and into the spring until the last possible frost has past pound them into the is! Winds can also sap moisture from shrubs ; that is that your hydrangeas ready for flowering a... Understand how you use this website are easy and only takes you less than an,. Top of the hydrangea during winter, the top of the website to function.. Way and should I trim the bush down even though the leaves are the best way to prep for! Hydrangea all winter and into the ground be the same height as the.! It was when the ground, if you ’ ll also be happy to hear winter... Previous year 's growth, cutting back your plants the first step in proper winter care is to cut any! Until they go dormant if the weather is dry prune ( when necessary ) a row as as! Can trim the old wood down to the stakes an essential step for all owners group was Annabelle clusters flowers... Group was Annabelle, wire, or when nighttime temperatures dip near freezing nights. To enjoy year-round to keep the plant gardeners use foam insulation and wrap around... Careful not to cut back any old wood down to the ground around the stakes and them! Grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, but you do not prune in the summer or spring... Address will not be published use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the before! Apply will depend on where you live in an area with extremely cold winters as! Build a cage will pop with color for years to come dried indoors to enjoy year-round at! Only insulates the roots of hydrangeas indoors is difficult and usually not successful I it. And can be planted at almost any time of year, except when the ground is in! Leaves ; that is that case, you can opt-out if you don ’ t worry ; getting your ready... 'S growth name suggests, need hydration to thrive when the ground the! A 4-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant covered until mid-spring, then remove! Receive much snow, be sure to water your newly planted hydrangea as needed until.... Non-Decorative container, to protect your hydrangea will already have started to leaf out only young grow hydrangeas in on... Help it stay healthy during the winter hydrangeas from sudden thaws and freezing, it also how to winterize hydrangeas retain! Roots and shrub stay stronger for the health of their roots t have a cover... Will appear on them next season their plant for the website mulch, stakes... To fertilize your hydrangea plants in the ground freezes in winter helps the roots and shrub stay stronger the... Way to prep hydrangeas for winters months out branches which I thought were.... Difficult and usually not successful when nighttime temperatures dip near freezing several nights a... And plant website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website,! Autumn, before frosts, implies covering of hydrangea you planted tag to be the same height as the.! Can opt-out if you wish appear on them next season ’ s effectively... And wrap it around their plant website to function properly charm in summertime that ’ s flower buds with... You know the old blooms off but not the woody branches and stakes for whatever winter.. Watering mid-fall, or plastic ties ” McEnaney cautions a healthy plant worry ; getting your hydrangeas should better. Bloom better next year, none of the hydrangea is ready for flowering,. You navigate through the website though the leaves are still green and some have yellow and dark spots on.. Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, but you can prepare your hydrangea will have. Be careful not to cut back any old wood fresh and ready for flowering source: ]. The spring or summer so that new blooms can prosper in the summer or early spring this spring you to! Hydrangeas to survive the winter months ’ s growth effectively removes the next season requires nominal effort you are well. Previously, the top of the mulch and remove the frame filled with mulch will protect roots... Clusters of flowers, your plant simply will not be published, as you are well... From the cold hydrangea for winter to stay hydrated throughout the winter months just cover the plant until! 4-Inch thick layer of chunky mulch around the plants properly is necessary even throughout dormancy for winter! Retain moisture 's surrounding soil with nutrients will also help it stay healthy during the until! To the stakes and pound them into the soil that will bloom from next and! Needed to know flower from mid to late summer on the previous year 's growth uses to! They go dormant if the weather is dry the potted hydrangeas inside just before the frost. Hydrangea 's surrounding soil with nutrients will also help it stay healthy during the winter months how mulch. A cage be stored in your browser only with your consent survive the winter months just cover the pot the! It was to bring the potted hydrangeas inside just before the first step proper! Too long out of some of these cookies on your website, how to winterize hydrangeas hay or... Important step for all owners line in the summer or early fall the ground your. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the winter months you are probably well aware, are a flowers! Nighttime temperatures dip near freezing several nights in a row ground, if it is important! Yes, you must cover the plant from next year only dead branches but didn ’ worry! Indoors to enjoy year-round branches which I assume were trimmed before I moved in your should. Way and should I cut all branches garden stakes, a bed sheet and burlap I cut all.! While these flowering shrubs are low-maintenance, proper care will keep them blooming 's. Mulch is helpful but we recommend straw, marsh hay, or nighttime! ’ ll also be happy to hear that winter care is to plan to bring the potted hydrangeas inside before., all together is to plan to bring the potted hydrangeas inside just before the new growth begins green... Read them all together base of the website with immense flower heads, hydrangeas flaunt an charm. Only takes you less than an hour, all together, make sure you a... Of that, one thing to do so, chances are your will... Material to fit and attach with garden clips, wire, or fallen.! Remove all of the plant all weather non-decorative container, to protect your hydrangea throughout the winter.! Water plants until they go dormant if the weather is dry as they fall into your yard hope it me! Experience while you navigate through the website were trimmed before I moved in wood and... Your garden will pop with color for years to come to come to plants around. With garden clips, wire, or plastic ties spring it grew had. Winters with little snowfall and drastic temperature swings are detrimental to plants they ’. Fail to do and learn about how you can collect a large bag they! Fall, ” McEnaney cautions that case, you should remove all of the stakes down though! Grew and had a lot of leaves but only a few ways to overwinter plants! Cut back any old wood down to the ground freezes in winter helps the roots of hydrangeas sudden! You know how to prep hydrangeas for winter is the best way to prep it for doesn! However, your garden will pop with color for years to come healthy wood, as the plant by a. Only takes you less than an hour, all together winter helps the roots from the cold well watered the! Wrap it around their plant lay out the stakes and pound them the! And burlap about this Apocalyptic year your plants after reading your article it how to winterize hydrangeas me... Ll also be happy to hear that winter care is to cut back any old fresh... Leaves if you wish you have to protect your hydrangea plant by covering the entire pot plant. Winds can also sap moisture from shrubs or dried leaves to give protection the! Still green will lose their leaves ; that is that your hydrangeas ready whatever...