Gardeners urged to do 5 things to hydrangeas before the first sign of frost
If you have hydrangeas growing in the garden, now is a great time to start preparing them for the winter.
Hydrangeas are a popular flower choice in British homes because of their big, beautiful blooms. However, with winter frosts drawing near, it’s important to look after your flowers properly.
Hydrangeas are particularly vulnerable to frosts, as they can leave them with blackened, wilted leaves. If you want to protect your plants as the colder months approach, there are five things you need to do now — but first you have to know what kind of hydrangea you have, according to Southern Living.
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New wood hydrangeas bloom on the new wood, which grows in spring, whereas old wood hydrangeas develop flower buds during their active growth period in summer.
New wood requires pruning while it's dormant in winter, and old wood should be pruned immediately after flowering in the spring and summer.
If you have hydrangeas growing in pots, make sure you keep watering them around once a month to keep their soil moist over winter. When it comes to timing, you should try and water them during the day when the temperature is above freezing. Potted hydrangeas will also benefit from mulching.
Five things to do now to protect your hydrangeas from the cold and frost:
Remove any broken or diseased branches
Avoid pruning old wood, and wait until after the first frost to prune new wood
Gather any dried blooms from the plant
Water deeply — make sure the earth is damp at least three inches down
Mulch them. Mulching your hydrangeas will protect the roots from colder weather. Just make sure you leave a two-inch gap around the main stem of your hydrangea.
