Prepare Hydrangeas for Winter
Hydrangeas are woody shrubs that display brightly colored bushels of white, blue, pink or purple petals. Often referred to as "mopheads," these clusters of flowers are usually produced from late spring to early fall in most regions. Hydrangeas thrive best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8. Hydrangeas are planted for their ornamental qualities. Although they are hardy, hydrangeas require year-round maintenance to prevent them from becoming leggy and overgrown. Particular care should be taken to prepare hydrangeas for winter. Zones which receive temperatures of no less than 5 to 10 degrees F (-15 to -12.2 degrees C) will not require that hydrangeas be protected for winter. If temperatures fall below this, winterizing is essential. The following tips will allow you to protect your hydrangeas from winter weather and ensure another season of healthy growth.
Contents
Steps
Fertilize Hydrangeas
- Apply 10-10-10 plant fertilizer to the base of your hydrangeas in late fall. Fertilizing in the fall will supply the roots of woody plants the extra nutrients needed to sustain them through the dry winter months. Remove all debris, such as leaves, sticks or rocks, from the base of the plant. Spread the fertilizer uniformly over the base of the plant at the root bed.
- Water the plant thoroughly after fertilizing. Completely saturate the root area in order to allow the fertilizer to sink into the base of the plant.
Wrap Hydrangeas with Wire
- Create a base for wiring the hydrangeas. Using a hammer or a mallet, drive 3 to 4 wooden stakes vertically into the ground around all sides of the plant at a distance of at least 4 inches (10.16 cm) from the base of the plant.
- Roll a piece of 1/4-inch (2.54 cm) mesh hardware cloth around the stakes at the perimeter of your plant.
- Secure the mesh to the stakes. Attach the mesh to each stake using a staple gun until the plant is enclosed with mesh, which will create a cage to contain protective material.
Cover Hydrangeas
- Fill the space around your hydrangeas. Place a single type of mulch or a combination of mulch, pine needles or compost around the base of the plant. This protective material will act as insulation from winter winds and frost, protecting the roots and the stems of the plant. Fill the space from the base of the plant to the top of the wiring, until the plant is surrounded by the protective material.
Tips
- During the winter months, you may need to refill the enclosure to make sure the plant is covered.
- You may remove the wire enclosure in early spring, when there is no longer a danger of frost.
- When filling the wire mesh cage, work carefully from the ground up, holding the branches up as you go so as not to damage or break them.
Things You'll Need
- 10-10-10 plant fertilizer
- Wooden stakes
- Hammer/mallet
- 1/4-inch (2.54 cm) mesh hardware cloth
- Staple gun
- Pine needles/compost/mulch
