When you think of hydrangeas, you may imagine large bushes brightening the front of a home or small bushes beautifying walkways. But not all hydrangeas grow in the ground. Dwarf varieties of these flowering shrubs can grow happily in containers on porches, patios and terraces.
Although some hydrangeas grow well in pots, these container-grown perennials will be more susceptible to cold winter temperatures than his cousins buried. This is because the ground does not protect them from cold air. Therefore, you will need to treat your potted hydrangeas with special care if you want them to survive winter.
Fortunately, preparation for winter potted hydrangeas is simple. I’ll share some simple steps you can take to help them get through the winter.
Determine Your Hydrangea Variety
Before you start hauling heavy pots and tearing up sheets of burlap, determine if you need to take additional steps to prepare your plants for winter. If your potted hydrangea can survive the winter outdoors without extra help, leave it alone!
Two main factors determine whether or not you should provide additional support to your hydrangea during the winter: the variety and you hardiness zone.
With about 100 species of hydrangeas and hundreds of other cultivars, you are not short of options when choosing one of these flowering shrubs. Since each variety has varied cold tolerancePay attention to what variety you are growing.
Many panicle hydrangeas and smooth hydrangeas can survive the winters outside in zone 3, but bigleaf and oakleaf varieties typically I need protection for winter when grown in zone 5 and below.
Know your hardiness zone
Once you know which variety you are growing, determine your hardiness zone. These areas refer to the average low temperature in winterso they are useful measurements when evaluating whether or not a plant will survive the winter in your area. Keep in mind that hardiness zones are changing as the climate changes; You may be in a new growth zone.
And remember that potted plants are not as cold tolerant What they would be like if they were planted in the ground! He The soil acts as an insulating layer. which helps protect the roots of plants. Without it, roots are more susceptible to cold air temperatures. Therefore, it is best to err on the side of caution when protecting potted specimens.
Prepare your potted hydrangea for winter
dormant plants have a much better time survive low temperatures than those that actively grow. Therefore, one of your tasks is to help your hydrangea slow down its growth and enter dormancy before freezing temperatures hit.
First, avoid pruning living tissue in the fall. This is It has been shown to reduce or stop flowering. next season. Pruning encourages them to send out flexible trees. new growth which is more susceptible to cold damage. Therefore, wait until late winter or early spring to prune.
You must also adjust your basic care routines to help ease the transition into fall and winter. Avoid fertilizing in late summer and fall, as this will encourage a new flush of foliage that is susceptible to cold damage. Decreasing the amount of water It will also help prepare you for a cold winter.
Pay attention to the weather
Pay attention to the weather and weather forecast to avoid covering too early in the fall. You want to prepare for winter and Protect your potted hydrangeas. before the first frost date, so look up the expected date if you’re not sure when to expect the first layer of frost. While this date is good information to have on hand, keep in mind that you should add frost covers well in advance of the date. first frost.
A good rule of thumb is to mulch and cover when night temperatures constantly dip below 45°F (7ºC). It’s okay if they experience a one-off cold night, but you should try to protect them before a steady stream of cold nights hits.
Survey your options
You have two main options when it comes time to protect your potted hydrangeas from winter. You can bring them inside still good location or leave them outdoors with additional protection.
Move them inside
If you live in a growth zone That is below the plant’s cold tolerance, it is best to bring the hydrangea indoors. From potted plants they are more susceptible to cold damage Than those planted in the ground, temperatures in zone 4 can damage specimens in pots that are resistant up to zone 3.
Avoid moving your pots to a warm location. Instead, place them in a good location where the temperature remains below 45°F and above 32°F (below 7°C and above 0°C). An unheated garage, mudroom or conservatory usually works well. It is best if the location receives light, but a dark area can also work.
Leave them outdoors and provide additional insulation
Another option is to leave your pots outdoors and provide them with additional protection from the cold This is a great option for heavy pots as well as for gardeners who do not have access to adequate indoor space. However, this option is best for hydrangeas that are hardy in your growing zone.
Ideally, you can move your pots to a protected outdoor location like the side of a building. However, it is okay if the container is too large to move.
Once your plant is located where it will overwinter, it’s time to get started. insulating he. You can use numerous materials to protect your plant from the cold and one material is not necessarily better than the other. Some suitable options for wrapping the pot include bubble wrap, burlap, and coconut fiber mats. You can also wrap the pot with a loose canvas and fill the space between the tarp and the container with leaves, strawor other insulating material.
Whatever material you choose, try to provide at least a inch of insulation. This layer will help protect the roots of the plant due to cold air temperatures. If possible, you should place the bottom of your pot on a piece of rigid insulation, a pile of wood chips, or a log.
In most cases, you will not need to protect the aerial part of the hydrangea. Remember, spend the winter outdoors It works best when the plant is resistant to its growing zone. However, you can wrap the plant’s branches with a layer of burlap or a row cover if you expect a very cold night.
Water sparingly
Whether you leave your potted hydrangeas outside to prepare them for winter or bring them inside to protect them, be careful to avoid excess water. They use much less water during the winter and too much water can quickly cause the soil to become soggy and rotten roots.
In most circumstances, outdoor specimens can survive winter without any type of irrigation. Indoor pots may require a little water, but water once a month is generally sufficient. If the soil feels moist, watering is not necessary.
Move outdoors after the last frost
Once the last spring frost has passed and night temperatures are consistently above 45°F (7°C), you can get ready for spring! Move potted hydrangeas from indoors to outdoors and remove protective winter covers of those who spent the winter outdoors.
Move them outdoors while it’s still fresh allows them slowly transition to spring. Additionally, it ensures that they receive full sun while forming new leaves and buds.
