Hydrangea shelter for the winter
There are a huge number of types of hydrangeas, and among them there are many frost-resistant ones – they do not need to be covered in the winter, just slightly spud the base of the bush. But the most spectacular – large-leaved hydrangea – winters poorly in cold regions, so it must be prepared carefully for winter.

When to cover hydrangea for the winter

The main rule is to cover the hydrangea before the first hard frost. But preparing a hydrangea for shelter must begin long before that.

In August, stop fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers. At the beginning of September, watering is stopped, the lower leaves are removed so that the shoots begin to lignify. Before the first frosts, in the middle or end of September, you need to cut off all the leaves, leaving only the top ones – they protect the apical flower buds. In this form, the hydrangea should remain until the moment of shelter.

So, when to cover her in the winter?

For residents of central Our Country and the Moscow region

In these regions, hydrangeas usually begin to cover at the end of October – it is at this time that significant frosts begin. But this time frame is indicative. If the weather is warm, it is better to wait a little with shelter. And if it gets very cold already in the middle of the month, it’s not worth pulling.

For residents of the Urals and Siberia

Here, it is better to cover the large-leaved hydrangea early – in the middle, or even in the beginning of October. But again, you should not be tied to specific dates – you need to look at the weather.

For residents of the southern regions

In southern regions with warm mild winters, where the temperature does not fall below -10 ° C, large-leaved hydrangea does not need shelter – it can withstand frosts down to – 15 ° C (1). By the way, its frost resistance depends on soil moisture – the more it is watered in summer and autumn, the better it winters (2).

How to cover hydrangea for the winter

The most reliable shelter for any heat-loving plants is snow. Under the snow, hydrangea hibernates best. And since the bushes of this species are quite high, in autumn they need to be laid on the ground.

To do this, the branches are tied with a rope, and then they are carefully bent to the ground and laid on a wide board. Small young bushes are also tied up, laid on spruce branches and pressed with stone or bricks. Then the plants are covered with a dry leaf and covered with lutrasil (grade 30 – with holes).

When to Open Hydrangeas in Spring

There is no need to rush here, because frosts in cold regions occur until June 5-10, and they can damage flower buds. In mid-May, the leaves are gradually removed and shoots are raised. But at night it is still better to wrap hydrangeas with lutrasil. And only in early June, the shelter can be removed completely.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about sheltering hydrangeas with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

What hydrangeas can winter without shelter in the middle lane?

The most winter-hardy species are paniculate hydrangea and tree hydrangea. They can withstand temperatures down to -30°C. However, hydrangeas have a superficial root system, so it is better to mulch the near-stem circle with humus, peat or dry leaves – a layer of 10 cm.

Where to plant hydrangea so that it winters better?

Ideal options – on the south side of the house or a high blank fence – so the bush will be protected from cold northern winds in winter. It’s good if there are low shrubs nearby that trap snow – it is also an excellent protection against frost.

Is it possible to grow large-leaved hydrangea without shelter?

If she completely goes under the snow before the onset of severe frosts, she has a chance to survive. However, it often happens that the cold has already come, but there is no snow yet. In this case, the plant will die.

 

But such hydrangeas can be grown in large tubs, and put into the cellar or basement for the winter.

Sources of

  1. Dyakova T.N. decorative trees and shrubs: new in the design of your garden // M.: Kolos, 2001 – 360 p.
  2. Boyko V.I., Roy Yu.F., Gritskevich E.V. The internal structure of the annual stem of large-leaved hydrangea // Actual problems of the forest complex, 2020, https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vnutrennyaya-struktura-odnoletnego-steblya-gortenzii-krupnolistnoy

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