What do hydrangeas look like in the winter

What Does a Hydrangea Bush Look Like in Winter? | Home Guides

By Cathy Habas Updated June 29, 2020

The huge flower heads of a hydrangea bush (Hydrangea spp.) can fill a landscape with vibrant pops of blue, pink, or white throughout summer. Typically hardy to USDA zones 4 to 9, many hydrangea varieties can survive a mild winter without special care, but their springtime growth and color benefit from attentive watering, pruning, fertilizing, mulching and weathering during the chilly season. Their stems remain visible during winter, and old flower heads (if not pruned) will turn brown.

Tip

Hydrangea flower heads turn dry and brown in the fall and will remain that way throughout winter if not removed. Hydrangeas also lose their leaves during fall, but the brown stalks remain upright unless pruned back.

Preparing a Hydrangea Bush for Winter

Preparing a hydrangea bush for winter starts in summer with a final application of a 10-10-10 fertilizer (2 cups per 100 square feet according to Clemson University) or a 6-inch layer of compost in July or August. Applying fertilizer later in the year could stimulate new growth on the hydrangea instead of encouraging dormancy, as could pruning the stems in fall or winter.

Next, maintain a regular deep-watering routine. For low-maintenance hydrangea care, plan to leave the hose trickling at the base of the plant for one hour every week until the ground freezes and water cannot pass through the soil. However, as much as hydrangeas need water, Oregon State mentions that it's possible to drown them in too much of it. If the soil has a high clay content or is otherwise slow to drain, overwatering will cause the roots to remain saturated, and the hydrangea's leaf edges will begin to turn brown.

The final task essential for preparing a hydrangea for winter is to keep it warm. According to Clemson University, hydrangeas won't bloom well in the spring if they experience injuries from severe frosts, among other possible causes. Keep their roots warm with a loose layer of leaves or straw, and completely cover the stems in a burlap blanket in zone 4 or any time unusually cold temperatures are in the forecast.

Don't Prune Hydrangeas in Winter

Winter is not an ideal time to prune hydrangeas, since it can stress the plant or possibly stimulate growth in the wrong season. Instead, prune in the late summer or fall after the last blooms have erupted.

Look for two distinct types of wood on hydrangeas: old wood and new wood. Old wood is last year's growth and, on some hydrangea types, the only wood that supports new buds. However, at the end of the season, this wood can be removed to make more room for the new wood, which had no flowers this year but will support flowers next year. New wood has a more vibrant color and elastic texture, whereas old wood looks duller and more dry.

Prune again in the spring to remove stems that died during winter frosts. You can tell that a stem is dead by carefully scraping off its outer layer. A stem that is alive will have tinges of green, but a dead stem will have no color at all. You can also look for evidence of buds on the stems. Using sharp pruning shears, trim at a 45-degree angle a few inches above the last bud.

If you feel a little nervous about pruning your hydrangeas, know that you don't have to prune them at all. The University of Maryland recommends simply removing the old flower heads and waiting until spring or summer to see exactly which stems are beyond old (they'll have no leaves at all) and can be safely removed without affecting this year's blooms.

References

Clemson University: Hydrangea
Oregon State: General Care for Hydrangeas

Writer Bio

Cathy Habas has been a full-time freelance writer since 2014. She graduated from Indiana University Southeast with a Bachelor's degree in English. She enjoys writing content that helps homeowners feel motivated and confident in handling projects around the home. Her work has been published around the web, including on home improvement sites like Ron and Lisa.

Hydrangeas in winter: The key change in their appearance and how to care for them

Hydrangeas in winter: The key change in their appearance and how to care for them | Express.

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HYDRANGEAS are known for their striking round flower heads and bright shades of blue, pink and white. While these vibrant blooms are a sight to behold from summer through to autumn, they can look quite different in the winter months - but how should you care for them between November and March?

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Hydrangeas are a much-loved deciduous shrub found in gardens right across Britain. With their vibrant, plump blooms, hydrangeas offer a striking display in the warm weather - but what do they look like in the winter? As the delicate petals fade in the colder months, bright hydrangeas can quickly appear dry and brown - requiring targeted care to get them flowering again in April. As the end of winter approaches, it’s time to get your hydrangeas in shape for the new season. This is how.

What do hydrangeas look like in winter?

Hydrangeas come in a range of shapes ranging from circular balls to graduated cones.

While the large rounded flower heads are the most iconic variety of this vibrant shrub, double-flowers and bi-coloured hydrangeas can also be grown as climbers or in containers.

During the winter months, most of the blooms fall from the plant and whatever is left often turns dry and brown.

The cold winter weather can leave the remaining foliage and buds of hydrangeas dead and damaged - but what’s the most likely cause?

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Hydrangeas in winter: The key change in their appearance and how to care for them (Image: GETTY)

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Why does my hydrangea look dead during the winter?

Frost damage can leave the remaining buds of hydrangeas looking or blackened during the winter, resulting in an unsavoury display of dormant growth.

Luckily, even if your plant has been affected by the seasonal frost, it’s unlikely to have killed the whole plant.

According to Gardeners’ World, time is all your hydrangea needs when it comes to recovering from frost damage - though prevention is always better than cure.

To prevent any late winter frost from causing further damage to this stunning shrub, you should:

Leave any faded flower heads over winter to protect the plant
Shelter your hydrangea from harsh winds

Hydrangeas in winter: Pruning is crucial to establish new growth for the spring (Image: GETTY)

How to care for hydrangeas in winter

Caring for your hydrangea plant during the winter should start with a light cutting to encourage fresh growth during the spring.

Stimulate new growth

Begin by clipping away the old wood at the base of the plant and removing any dead or weak branches by cutting them off.

Take care not to remove healthy wood as this is where the plant will bloom from the following year.

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Frame the plant

Using chicken wire and wooden stakes, make a frame for your hydrangeas to protect them from the harsh winter weather.

Position the stakes around the plant and wrap the chicken wire around the posts to form a cage.

Fill the cage with pine needles and oak leaves to fully insulate the plant through the cold season.

Be careful not to snap the ends of the branches while adjusting the cage as this will compromise your supply of gorgeous hydrangea blooms during the summer.

Hydrangeas in winter: Hydrangeas go dormant during the winter (Image: THE EXPRESS)

When to prune hydrangeas

The most commonly grown hydrangeas known as lacecaps and mop heads are known for their full-bodied blooms, and pruning is the best way to guarantee their return year after year.

Most varieties of hydrangea can be pruned from late winter or early spring, but what’s the best way to do it?

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, hydrangeas benefit from a range of pruning methods suited to each type of shrub.

To prune established mopheads, hydrangea serrata and lacecaps, the RHS recommends:

Cutting out one or two of the oldest stems at the base
Renovating neglected plants by cutting off all stems from the base - (this will prevent flowers from appearing until the following year)

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Hydrangeas in winter. What varieties will look good in the snow? | Flowers | Dacha

17.02.2017 00:06

Elena Kozhina

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

3821

Like many summer residents, I had to deal with the recommendation not to prune hydrangeas in the fall, but to leave their dry panicles for the winter. I decided to check it out. And that's what happened.

The bigger, the… worse?

First of all, after several unsuccessful experiments, I completely abandoned the idea not to prune hydrangeas that bloom in large caps for the winter. For example, the 'Grandiflora' known to most summer residents or the bright and luxurious 'Vanilla Fraise' (Strawberry with Cream), the fashion for which has not bypassed my garden. Their inflorescences break off under the weight of falling snow, and it’s good if not along with the branches. And in warm, damp winters, they get wet and rot. No beauty! A much more sensible idea is to cut them in the fall, dry them and use them at home in compositions with other dried flowers.

"Lacemakers" with character

Disillusioned with the previous group of hydrangeas, I turned my attention to varieties with loose and graceful inflorescences, collected from both large and small flowers. Yes, such hydrangeas are much less afraid of snowfalls and could well decorate the garden all winter. But in practice, everything also turned out to be not as perfect as it seemed. For example, the beauty ‘Great Star’, which until recently surprised us with huge “stars” of individual flowers, turned brown and withered the very first. In the autumn record holder for brightness, the variety ‘Wim’s Red’, luxurious burgundy-red panicles turned into dirty brown, although they retained their shape. Summed up with winter coloring and other strongly blushing hydrangeas - 'Diamond Rouge' and 'Magical Flame'. And in the fashionable novelty of recent years, 'Levana', although the inflorescences remained pretty and even very original (large flowers sagged in them and became like bright parachutes), but the leaves have not fallen on time for many years now, which is why the whole bush looks dried up, and I want to regret it more than admire it. Although this variety winters quite normally.

From Cinderellas to Princesses

So what happens: most of the recognized beauties completely “leave the stage” in winter? It looks like it is. But this is a great reason to pay attention to the former Cinderellas. For example, the hydrangea ‘Kiushu’ has been living in a shady corner of my garden for fifteen years now. Yes, her inflorescences are not large by modern standards, loose and individual flowers in them are small. But what a beauty she is! In autumn, when she seems to be wrapped in an expensive greenish-white lace shawl, or in winter, when her panicles become straw-yellow and literally glow in the slanting rays of the sun. She does not care about snow, or freezing rain, or thaw. And every time in winter, when I come to the dacha, I regret that I have only one such hydrangea. But there are many similar varieties - for example, 'Tardiva', 'Brussels Lace', 'Unique', 'Mustila' and others. I will definitely plant some more of them! And I advise you.

how to preserve the queen of a blooming garden

Hydrangea is a winter-hardy crop that can withstand frosts down to 30 degrees. However, the sad experience of gardeners suggests that this wonderful flower often freezes at a temperature of 15-20 °. Sometimes the roots suffer, sometimes the stems and tops of the shoots. And the exact reasons are unknown. Perhaps because the plant is not strong enough - it did not have time to feed on vital juices during the season. Perhaps the balance of the ground and underground parts was disturbed (for example, after incorrect pruning of shoots). Or maybe the landing site was chosen incorrectly - in a lowland where cold air masses descend or on top of a windswept hill. One way or another, it is better to play it safe and warm the hydrangea for the winter.

Hydrangea in winter - increasing frost resistance

Frost resistance depends on two main factors: the health and strength of the root system and the vitality of the shoots. The task of the gardener is to provide suitable conditions for the development and growth of the plant. The best location is a semi-shaded, windless area away from groundwater. The soil should be loose, fertile, structured, with a slightly acidic reaction. To increase the nutritional value, the soil is enriched with compost, peat, leaf humus. For better breathability, loosen with fine expanded clay and sand.

It is better to plant hydrangeas away from powerful trees and shrubs - so they do not have to fight for light, moisture and nutrients. Watering - regular, plentiful, without excessive waterlogging.

In the first year of life, the plant is allowed to develop freely, leaving even crooked shoots growing inside the crown. For the winter, the hydrangea is dug up and transferred for wintering to the cellar with a temperature of 5–7 °. That is why in the first season it is advisable to grow hydrangeas in a flowerpot or other portable container.

From the second season pruning is allowed to stimulate the branching of shoots.

For the third season, the plant is transplanted to a permanent place in open ground. The optimal time is the end of June, when there is no threat of night frosts.

Proper feeding

The main mistake of beginner gardeners is the desire to provide plants with natural fertilizers. In the course are rotted manure and fresh mullein. This is poison for hydrangeas. Top dressing with well-rotted foliage is allowed. But if you are not sure about the maturity of the humus, it is better to use biohumus, superphosphate and other ready-made fertilizers.

It is best to choose a specialized complex fertilizer for hydrangeas with a balanced NPK complex (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) - they are widely represented in our catalog. With their help, you can perform not only root top dressing, but also foliar express irrigation.
Nitrogen contributes to the growth of green leaf mass, lays the fortress of the bush. Phosphorus helps to develop the root system, stimulates the laying of buds. Potassium increases vitality, resistance to diseases and negative environmental factors. In addition, such complexes contain amino acids and trace elements useful for flowering plants (copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum, cobalt, manganese). Strictly adjusted proportions eliminate the risk of burns to the root system, young shoots and foliage.

Pruning hydrangeas - preparing for wintering

Paniculata and tree varieties of hydrangeas can be pruned radically. Large-leaved varieties - very moderately. It is enough to cut off the apical shoots and established inflorescences, as well as dry and weakened branches.

American florist Tim Bebel proposes to postpone the pre-winter pruning of hydrangeas to the summer, while promising guaranteed lush flowering after winter. The technique is based on allowing the flower buds to ripen well before the onset of cold weather. In the middle of summer, shoots without peduncles are shortened to the lower lateral bud. The remaining branches are cut to a third of the length at the end of October. As a result, we get a compact bush, ready for warming for the winter. With this method of pruning in spring and summer, hydrangeas will need enhanced fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers.

Winter insulation

A suitable shelter will help to save hydrangeas for the winter (digging into a trench, wrapping with covering material).