Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for hydrangeas to start sprouting after the first warm days and then be surprised by late frost and freeze. Read here what you can do for your hydrangeas in this case.
How do you treat hydrangeas that freeze after they sprout?
When hydrangeas begin to sprout in spring, the young shoots and buds are very susceptible to frost. Without appropriate protection, they freeze easily, which you can see when the bright green shoots turn brown. However, hydrangeas usually recover quickly from frost damage, even if they may not bloom the following season.
How do I know if my hydrangeas are frostbitten?
You can recognize frozen shoots because the shoots aremushy and brown. While hydrangeas are generally hardy, young shoots and buds are particularly sensitive to frost.
Can hydrangeas recover from frost damage?
Don't worry, hydrangeas can recover from frost damagemostly recover wellHowever, you have to expect that the flowering will be less or even completely absent this year. Older bushes with many shoots that are already woody recover more easily from frost than young plants that only have a few shoots. If your hydrangeas are severely affected by frost damage, you should wait until the end of May to see whether they still recover. If you cannot see any tender green shoots by then, you should discard the hydrangeas.
How do I treat frost damage to my hydrangeas?
It is now important to protect the already weakened hydrangeas from further frost damageCover them with cold protection (€7.00 at Amazon), for example made of fleece, or put the bush in a protected place.
Even if it is an unsightly sight: Avoid cutting off the frozen parts of the plantThe open ones created by cuts Wounds would only allow the cold to penetrate more easily and further harm the plant. Instead, you have to wait until the hydrangea sheds the affected parts of the plant after a few weeks and sprouts again.
How can I prevent frost damage to hydrangeas?
To avoid frost damage, you should prevent your hydrangeas from sprouting before the last frost. You can achieve this by removing the cold protection in good time in early spring. At least during the day you should remove the cover. If there are still night frosts, cover the plants again in the evening. Otherwise it can quickly happen that it gets too warm under the fleece and the hydrangeas start to sprout again.
Tip
How to recognize dead shoots
If you are unsure whether a shoot is frozen or not, you can check with a simple test: gently scratch the bark with your fingernail. If it is green underneath, the shoot is still alive. If it is completely brown and dried out, you can cut it off.
