How to cover a hydrangea for the winter - preparing bushes in the fall for wintering

Hydrangea care in the fall, preparation for winter and the wintering itself are organized in accordance with certain rules. To get a lush flowering bush in the spring, in the autumn you need to prune, and then cover the flower. Everything must be done before the first frost, otherwise the flowering buds will be damaged.

Do I need to cover the hydrangea for the winter

Winter can be a real challenge for outdoor flowers, especially when it comes to hydrangeas. It is worth considering several factors: in which strip the plant is grown, the type of flower and how old the specimen is.

Blooming hydrangea

Be sure to cover 2 types of hydrangea - large-leaved and Sargent. Even in the southernmost regions with a mild climate, minimal temperature drops can lead to the death of flowering buds.

If other varieties grow in the country, then it is worth focusing on the climatic conditions of the region. Hilling the bush is usually sufficient. This is done with the tree hydrangea. The soil is simply poured onto the base of the bush to cover the root system with a maximum layer of soil.

It is imperative to cover the bushes that have not reached the age of two. Young specimens are highly dependent on environmental conditions.

Option to prepare hydrangeas for winter

When to shelter hydrangeas in different regions

The timing for sheltering a plant in different regions of Russia is approximate. The most accurate signal for an event will be zero night temperature. In the southern strip, there is enough hilling.

When to start insulating hydrangeas in different areas:

• In the Moscow region and the middle lane, the procedure is carried out in mid-October.
• In Siberia, in the Urals, in the Leningrad region - in early October.

Some specimens in the Moscow region do not require shelter if the bushes are already mature, and these are frost-resistant varieties.

Hydrangea - preparation for winter

If you do not take preliminary measures for pruning, reducing watering and other points of care, then the hydrangea bloom in the spring may not resume.

Pruning bushes

How to prepare a hydrangea bush for winter according to the rules:

• Sanitary pruning. It is necessary to remove all excess leaves that have already changed color to yellow. It is enough to leave the upper leaf plates, which remain green almost until the beginning of October. With this pruning, the stems begin to become tree-like.
• At the beginning of September, you need to make the last top dressing. Phosphate-potassium fertilizers should be applied. It is strictly forbidden to use fertilizing with nitrogen in the fall.
• It is worth reducing the watering of the plant. It is enough to moisten the soil only when it is completely dry. The exact watering schedule is determined by weather conditions.

If you properly prepare the flower for the time when covering is required, the plant will overwinter without problems.

What can you cover

There are several options for materials that are used to shelter hydrangeas of different varieties. Popular options:

• dry leaves;
• spruce branches;
• agrofiber;
• polyethylene film;
• ordinary burlap;
• small brushwood.

In some situations, several types of materials are combined at once.

Dry foliage

Unlike a young bush, it is quite difficult to cut an old one, so a completely different method is used for shelter. The shelter is formed from lutrasil, chain-link and dry leaves. Procedure:

1. The bush is tied with a rope and wrapped in lutrasil.
2. A chain-link cylinder is formed around this base.
3. Dry foliage is poured between the chain-link and lutrasil.

Shelter of leaves

This option is especially popular among flower growers. The bush will definitely be protected from cold and wind.

Lapnik

A shelter made of this material has proven itself well when used for young bushes. Algorithm of actions:

1. Knock down a small board made of boards. Some nails are not fully driven in along the outer boards.
2. Tie the branches of the bush with ropes and, gradually bending the entire above-ground part to the board made of boards, tie them to the nails.
3. Lay the spruce branches on the bush. Sawdust can be an alternative.

Shelter from spruce branches

On top of the spruce branches, you need to insure by covering it with spunbond. Such an auxiliary layer will save the plant from cold air currents.

Agrofiber

After trimming, you can think of any design that involves the use of agrofibre as an auxiliary material for fixing the main insulation. Thanks to this layer, the hydrangea can be preserved for development and flowering for the next year.

Agrofiber

Polyethylene film

When using this material to cover the bush, all branches are tied with a rope, then the base is wrapped with a film. To strengthen the base, it is worth using stiff wire.

Sackcloth

The use of a burlap shelter is relevant only in the southern regions. You can simply wrap the bush with burlap, which is tied with twine.

Brushwood

To protect the open ground around the bushes, brushwood is used for shelter. The principle of shelter formation is similar to spruce branches. Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

1. If necessary, cut off the tips of the shoots.
2. Tie the bush with a rope, pulling the branches well.
3. Press the above-ground part to the ground, securing the base with metal rivets driven into the ground.
4. Pour finely chopped brushwood on top.

How to cover different types of hydrangeas: a step-by-step guide

At the time of planting a certain variety, you need to know exactly how to cover the hydrangea for the winter. Gardeners distinguish 3 main types of plants that require a special attitude towards themselves.

Hydrangea wintering

Large-leaved

To get good flowering of the most popular type of plant, it is worth understanding how large-leaved hydrangea winters. Such bushes are the most thermophilic. Warming procedure:

1. After the air temperature has dropped to 0 ° C, all leaves are removed from the bush.
2. Tie up all the branches of the bush and bend them to the ground.
3. Cover with spruce branches.
4. A layer of agrofibre is wound on top.
5. A protective frame is formed from metal rods.

Metal frame for hydrangea

This principle of saving the plant from frost and cold weather will allow you to get lush flowering during the active growing season.

Tree-like

This hydrangea belongs to a fairly frost-resistant variety. In the middle lane, she can do without shelter, but this does not apply to young bushes. Usually, their shelter is done with the help of spruce branches.

Paniculata

Representatives of this type of hydrangea are considered the most frost-resistant. If you properly prepare the bush for wintering, then the formation of a shelter is not needed. After the end of flowering, you need to cut off the faded parts of the stems, remove the yellow leaves and shorten the size of the shoots to 30-60 cm.

Hilling a bush

Then the hilling of the bush is carried out within the stems. This will keep the root system from freezing, which means that the plant will retain its basic functions.

When and how to clean up a shelter

After wintering, the hydrangea will be ready to remove the shelter after the night temperature has increased to +1 ° C. During this period, the growth of twigs and leaves on them is activated. In order not to "steam up" the plant in the shelter, it is worth keeping an eye on when the active growing season begins.

The whole algorithm of preparation for wintering

A well-organized shelter for wintering will protect the aerial part and the root system of the plant from freezing. First you need to prepare the hydrangea: prune, cultivate the land near the bush. If everything is done correctly, then the flower will normally endure even severe frosts and will quickly recover after wintering.