The hydrangea is one of the relatively hardy garden perennials that can usually cope with short-term frosts well. Since many hydrangeas produce flowers the previous year, they still need some winter protection. In this article you will find out what measures you should take to ensure that the romantic garden beauties can cope well with ice and snow.
How to protect hydrangeas in winter?
To protect hydrangeas in winter, leave the dead flower umbels on the plant, pile up the root collar 10-20 cm high with suitable substrate and protect the buds with plant fleece. Potted plants should overwinter in frost-proof containers and protected areas.
Overwintering bedding plants
The hydrangea's winter rest lasts approximately from November to March. During this time it loses its leaves, so that the inflorescences that have already formed are exposed to the cold without protection.
It is therefore recommended to leave the dead flower umbels on the plant in autumn. Covered with ice and snow, they are a natural protection from the cold for the buds. In autumn, only cut out the dried branches so that fungi and putrefactive bacteria cannot settle there.
piling up the root neck
As early as autumn, it is recommended to pile up the hydrangeas about ten to twenty centimeters high. Substrates that still allow enough air to reach the plant are suitable for this, such as:
- Compost soil
- Hydrangea or Rhododenron soil
- bark mulch
- Chopped tree cuttings
We ask you to refrain from using peat, which is still often recommended, for ecological reasons.
Protect buds
In harsh areas, you should also cover the crown of the hydrangea. Special plant fleeces (€72.00 on Amazon) are very suitable for this, as they give the hydrangea enough space to breathe.
potted plants in winter
You can overwinter these hydrangeas either in a sheltered spot on the balcony or in the house. Plants with a pot diameter of less than forty centimeters must always be moved indoors.
Leave potted plants on the balcony
Make sure that the hydrangea is in a frost-proof container. Thick-walled containers are best because they keep out the cold and don't freeze so quickly. Move the hydrangea to a protected place and cover the sensitive crown with plant fleece.
It is important to ensure that the substrate does not dry out completely, even in winter. Therefore, on mild days, always water the hydrangea when the soil in the upper area of the flower pot feels dry.
Overwintering hydrangea in the house
The basement or a cool stairwell are the optimal winter quarters for smaller hydrangeas. The temperature in the room should be a maximum of ten degrees. Ventilate regularly so that the buds do not start to rot. Keep the soil evenly moist but never wet to avoid root rot.
Tips & Tricks
Do not remove winter protection too early. Even if the rays of the spring sun warm you pleasantly during the day, temperatures can still drop below freezing at night. The buds that are currently sprouting would then freeze.
