#83 How to Protect Your Hydrangea for The Winter

Winter is an important season of the year when gardeners have to take good care of their plants and make sure that they are in good shape and form for the coming season.

Winter comes with a great change in environmental condition, that is, the environment becomes so cold that they can affect the plant adversely if it doesn’t kill them in cases where it becomes very disastrous.

As a gardener, you do not want to miss the presence of beautiful flowers such as the hydrangeas that adorn your garden and make it much appreciated and loved.

The hydrangea flowers are woody shrubs that produce lovely pink, blue, white, or purple blooms that make them very cute and astonishing when grown in the garden.

Although these plants are hardy and can withstand cold to a certain extent, special care should be given to the hydrangea plant to ensure that they can continue to bloom in their productive season and grow beautifully again.

During winter, the occurrence of dry wind and loss of moisture makes it very important to make sure that the plant is able to withstand these issues by providing them with essential water and adding compost to the soil when needed.

There are different ways in which you can protect your plant from the cold weather and prevent the damage of the essential body parts such as the tip of the stem where the flower blooms.

There are several ways you can go about preventing your plant from winter damages and keeping them safe for the winter.

Are you willing to learn how to keep your hydrangea plant safe or you want to know how to go about protecting your beautiful hydrangea during the cold season?

In this article, we will take you through the steps involved in protecting your hydrangea plant for the winter, so you should read further to know more.

Steps Involved in Protecting Your Hydrangea for the winter

Protecting your hydrangea plant is a very important thing to do especially in cases when they are still very small but you must note that as the plant grows larger and bigger it tends to become a little bit strenuous and demanding.

When it is winter, the accessibility of plants to water and nutrients might be very difficult due to the cold and possible freeze, make sure that they have what they can use for the period.

You don’t have to wait for the first frost to reach; always make necessary preparation ahead.  Below are some steps to take when you want to protect your plant from winter.

Do not fertilize too close to winter:

Generally, it is important to fertilize your soil during spring and summer as fertilizing during fall could cause the development of blooms that may not be able to withstand the winter condition.

Make sure fertilization is done before fall (i.e. either during spring or summer) and avoid over-fertilization.

Provide the hydrangeas with compost:

Composts are made from organic materials and they can help provide your plants with the necessary nutrients needed during the season.

Make sure that the compost is well added as they will have the chance to break down over winter and will be able to feed the plant as soon as spring sets in.

Water the soil thoroughly:

Water is an important necessity for proper plant growth and development and you should always provide them with the required water that can suffice for them before the frost period sets in.

Water should be provided to the plant’s root every two to three days and must be allowed to soak into the soil before adding another.

This should start two months before winter so that the plant can get enough water to sustain its roots for the winter.

Prepare organic mulch:

Mulching is the process of protecting the stem and root of your plant by covering the soil surface close to the plant base with the organic materials.

Mulches can be made out of materials such as straws, dry leaves, and shredded leaves. When collecting leaves, make sure they are free from insects that can harm the plant.

Apply mulch:

It is necessary to know the right time to apply mulch so as to keep the plant safe. Early mulching can attract rodents so it is more advisable to mulch either during late fall, early winter, or when the ground begins to freeze.

Mulch at a height of 6 – 8 inches above the ground:

Hydrangeas require heavy mulching and might require mulching at a height of 6 inches at minimum to keep the plant protected from cold.

Make sure that the mulching materials are well scattered at the base of the plant and also well distributed. This will help prevent loss of water during the period and will as well help protect the plant during the season.

NB: mulching might not be required in regions or places where the weather is very cold and might require more intense protection to keep the plant safe.

These above steps should be able to protect plants well in regions where the weather is not too harsh and fierce. In places where the cold is very much, follow the steps below to protect your hydrangea plants.

Insert stakes into the ground:

Get four wooden stakes that are as tall as the plant and insert them into the ground at a depth of 4 inches. The stakes should be placed at a distance of about 3 to 4 inches from the base of the plant allowing for enough space.

Use a mallet or hammer to drive the stakes into the ground and ensure that it is firm and vertically arranged. Make sure that the plant’s branches are not resting on the stake.

Wrap the stakes with a suitable material:

The stakes should be well covered in order to protect the plant from damage and also the material chosen for use must allow for the proper circulation of air around the plant.

The material that is commonly used is the burlap material and you can use the garden fleece as an alternative. Make sure that it is firm and strong.

Staple the material to the stake:

It is important to make use of an adhesive at this point so as to ensure that the cage won’t be destroyed.

The material should be well attached to the top, middle, and base of the stakes and the staple gun should be carefully used to insert the staples into the wood.

Fill up the cage with leaves:

When the weather is expected to be very cold and fierce, it is very important to add extra insulating material around the plant.

The cage should be filled with dried leaves to the top and this will help to protect the hydrangea without damaging it.

NB: do not cover the top of the plant as the weight of heavy snows can damage it and cause the plant some harm.

For Hydrangea grown in Pots:

You can bring it indoor close to a heat source to prevent the root of the plant from freezing or make use of foam to wrap up the plant and tie it up. This should be able to keep the plant safe for the winter.

Conclusion

Keeping your lovely plants safe during winter is very important and will make you a happy gardener when the growing season sets in.

This will give you a chance to give your plant a fighting chance against the harsh season and they will likewise bless your garden with their colorful blooms. Always stay positive!

Thank you for taking the time to read this article !