Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Here you will find everything you need to know about hydrangeas in winter: from the right frost protection to successfully overwintering in a pot.

For a successful overwintering, hydrangeas usually need frost protection

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea) and frost: Hydrangeas don't really have a problem with the cold, rather picturesque ice formations form on the frozen blossoms every year. But even if hydrangeas are hardy, they can easily suffer frost damage if they are not cared for properly. We explain exactly how to winterize hydrangeas and how to easily overwinter hydrangeas in tubs.

Wintering Hydrangeas: Are All Hydrangeas Hardy?

Although hydrangeas tolerate frost relatively well, this can become a threat, especially for hydrangea species that flower for the following year in autumn. Because the flowering plants are sensitive to frost and also have very shallow roots. So if you want to protect hydrangeas from frost, it is worth covering the roots with a layer of mulch or something similar to protect against ground frost.
Another critical point in time is new growth. This takes place around the month of April, at which time severe night frosts can still threaten. If the tender, young shoots of the hydrangea experience night frosts, the entire new shoot can suffer severe frost damage - up to complete destruction. This damage is usually accompanied by the loss of the hydrangea flower. This applies in particular to the species Hydrangea macrophylla - but with the right preparation, you can also overwinter the peasant hydrangea safely.

Winterizing Hydrangeas

For a successful overwintering of your hydrangeas, you should already pay attention to the suitable location when planting. You can also ensure good frost protection with the procedure for fertilizing. To specifically protect the hydrangeas, you can use jute and fleece as well as foliage.

If you are planning to bring your hydrangea indoors for the winter, we advise against it: hydrangeas need frost or at least cold temperatures to enter the important dormant phase and to bloom profusely in the coming year.

During budding inIn spring, hydrangeas should be protected from night frosts

Preparing Hydrangeas for the Winter: At a Glance

  • Plant in a sheltered spot.
  • Fertilization with mineral nitrogen is taboo from mid-July; organic fertilizers can be used until the end of July; a high potassium content in the fertilizer ensures frost tolerance - it is therefore best to use a special fertilizer for hydrangeas such as our Potassium-rich Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer.
  • Protect hydrangeas from frost with leaves, a jute sack, fir branches or mulch; not only cover the hydrangeas, but especially the roots.
  • Cover hydrangeas at ground level with leaves or pine branches.
  • Remove the winter protection from the hydrangeas as the temperatures rise (from around the Ice Saints, May 11th to 15th) so as not to endanger the budding from fungal infestation.
  • In the event of severe night frosts during spring budding, protect the hydrangeas against the frost for a short time - pack them in jute or garden fleece overnight, for example.
  • The hydrangeas do not need to be watered during the winter.

Note: Hydrangeas can be pruned either in autumn or in spring before new growth. You can find more detailed information on pruning hydrangeas in this special article.

For hydrangeas in pots, it is also important to protect the plants from frost in winter. But even a frozen inflorescence still has a special ornamental value

Winter hydrangeas in pots

If you want to overwinter hydrangeas in tubs, the same applies as for specimens planted in beds.
If the goal is to protect hydrangeas in pots from frost but leave them outdoors, it makes sense to Wrap the pot and plant together in jute or garden fleece. To protect the hydrangeas from sunburn on the foliage, it is best to place them in a shady corner. Containers with a diameter of less than 35 centimeters are best overwintered in a shed or garage in a frost-free place (3 - 5 °C).

Overwintering your hydrangea indoors is not advisable: It shouldn't be warmer than 5 °C, because cool temperatures favor the formation of ornamental inflorescences.
The same applies to hydrangeas overwintering in the basement : On the one hand, most cellars are too warm for the plants, on the other hand, it can happen that the hydrangeas are not brought back out into the light in time in spring. So you can make the appointment formiss normal sprouting.

Tip: When buying hydrangeas, pay attention to their condition. Some garden centers still offer fall-blooming plants that are propelled in the greenhouse. If you try to overwinter these hydrangeas, this will inevitably lead to severe frost damage, especially outdoors. Because in order to produce attractive plants, the hydrangeas are often fertilized far too much. Tree nurseries often offer slightly more expensive, but higher quality goods and better advice.

Summary: Overwintering hydrangeas in pots

  • Wrap the pot and plant in jute or garden fleece.
  • Put in a shady corner to protect the hydrangeas from sunburn.
  • Save smaller pots (diameter less than 35 cm) in a shed or garage in a frost-free place.
  • It is better not to overwinter hydrangeas indoors or in the basement: temperatures should not be warmer than 5 °C.

Caring for hydrangeas in winter

Have your hydrangeas been winterized and are in their winter quarters? Then you usually don't have to worry about them until spring. Hydrangeas do not require fertilizer during the winter dormancy period. The water supply can also be suspended in winter. Outdoors it is usually humid enough in the cold season anyway. You can only give them a small sip of water every one to two months if you overwinter your hydrangeas in tubs and the plants are under one roof.

In autumn, hydrangeas shed their leaves and go into hibernation

When winter slowly turns to spring, it's time for spring fertilization. A special hydrangea fertilizer such as our Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer is suitable for this. It strengthens your hardy hydrangeas with extra iron and thus prevents typical deficiency symptoms and diseases. This gives the hydrangea plants a good start to the growing season.

Furthermore, after hibernating in a dark place, hydrangeas should be slowly and carefully re-accustomed to the sun, otherwise they may get sunburned.

For more information on caring for hydrangeas in general, see our care article.

These products protect your plants from frost:

  • Thermal garden fleece: Ideal for protecting your plants from cold and frost in winter. Can be cut individually.
  • Jute sack/blanket: Reliable protectionagainst cold and frost made of 100% jute. Decorative natural fabric with a long service life.
  • Coir mat: Outstanding heat storage made of natural fibre. Breathable, weather-resistant and durable.
Jute protective fleece made from 100% jute fibers, approx. 105 x 500 cm€11.03 €11.01Details →- 30%Coconut felt mat, cold protection 0.5 x 1.5 m, brown,€9.99 €6.95Details →

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Trees