Caring for hydrangea in the fall, preparing for winter and wintering itself are organized in accordance with certain rules. To get lush flowering of a bush in spring, in the autumn you need to prune, and then cover the flower. Everything must be done before the first frosts, otherwise the flower-bearing buds will be damaged.
Do I need to harbor hydrangea for the winter
The winter period can be a real test for street flowers, especially when it comes to hydrangea. It is worth considering several factors: in which strip the plant is grown, the variety of the flower and how old is the specimen.
Flowering hydrangea
Be sure to cover 2 types of hydrangea - large-leaved and Sargent. Even in the southernmost regions with a mild climate, minimal temperature differences can lead to the death of flowering buds.
If other varieties grow in the country, then you should focus on the climatic conditions of the region. Usually enough hilling the bush. This is done with tree hydrangea. Soil is simply poured onto the base of the bush to cover the root system with a maximum layer of earth.
note! Indoor plant varieties are much easier to prepare for wintering - it is enough to carry out sanitary pruning.
Be sure to cover the bushes that have not reached the age of two. Young specimens are highly dependent on environmental conditions.
Option for preparing hydrangea for winter
When to harbor hydrangeas in different regions
Dates for sheltering plants in different regions of Russia are approximate. The most accurate signal for the event will be zero night temperature. In the southern lane there is enough hilling.
When you need to start hydrangea warming in different areas:
- In the suburbs and the middle lane, the procedure is carried out in mid-October.
- In Siberia, 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 carry out preliminary measures for pruning, reducing irrigation and other care points, then flowering hydrangea in the spring may not resume.
Pruning bushes
How to prepare a hydrangea bush for winter according to the rules:
- Sanitary pruning. You need to remove all excess leaves that have already changed color to yellow. It is enough to leave the upper leaf plates, which remain green until almost the beginning of October. Thanks to this pruning, the stems begin to become tree-like.
- In early September, you need to make the last top dressing. Phosphate-potassium fertilizers should be added. Fertilizing with nitrogen in the fall is strictly prohibited.
- It is necessary to reduce 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 you need shelter, the plant will winter without any problems.
How can I hide
There are several options for materials that are used to shelter hydrangeas of different varieties. Popular options:
- dry leaves;
- fir spruce branches;
- agrofibre;
- polyethylene film;
- regular burlap;
- fine brushwood.
Important! It is advisable to use natural material as a shelter, which is previously cleaned of pests and insects.
In some situations, several types of materials are combined at once.
Dry foliage
Unlike a young bush, it’s quite difficult to trim the old one, so a completely different method is used for shelter. Shelter is formed from lutrasil, chain-link and dry leaves. Procedure:
- The bush is tied with a rope and wrapped in lutrasil.
- Around this base form a cylinder of chain link.
- Between the chain-link and Lutrasil dry foliage falls asleep.
Leaf shelter
This option is especially popular among gardeners. The bush will definitely be protected from the cold and wind.
Lapnik
Shelter from this material has proven itself when used for young bushes. Algorithm of actions:
- Knock down a small shield from the boards. Along the edge boards, some nails are not driven completely.
- Tie the branches of the bush with ropes and, gradually bending the whole aerial part to the shield from the boards, tie them to the nails.
- Lay the spruce branches on the bush. An alternative could be sawdust.
Lapnik Shelter
On top of the spruce need to be insured by covering it with a spanbond. Such an auxiliary layer will save the plant from cold air currents.
Agrofibre
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, hydrangea can be preserved for development and flowering for the next year.
Agrofibre
Polyethylene film
When using this material to shelter a bush, all branches are tied with a rope, then they wrap the base with a film. To strengthen the base, it is worth using a rigid wire.
Sackcloth
The use of 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:
- If necessary, cut off the tips of the shoots.
- Tie the bush with a rope, tightening the branches well.
- Press the aboveground part to the ground, fixing the base on metal rivets driven into the ground.
- Pour finely chopped brushwood on top.
On a note! Additionally, the base is covered with roofing material or agrofibre.
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 hide hydrangea for the winter. Gardeners distinguish 3 main types of plants that require special treatment for themselves.
Hydrangea wintering
Large leaf
To get a good flowering of the most popular plant species, it is worthwhile to understand how large-leaved hydrangea winters. Such bushes are the most thermophilic. Warming procedure:
- After the air temperature drops to 0 ° C on the bush, all leaves are removed.
- Tie all the branches of a bush and bend to the ground.
- Shelter with spruce branches.
- A layer of agrofibre is wound on top.
- Form a protective frame of metal rods.
Hydrangea metal frame
This principle of saving the plant from frost and cold will allow you to get lush flowering during the period of active vegetation.
Tree-like
Such hydrangea is a fairly frost-resistant variety. In the middle lane, it can do without shelter, but this does not apply to young bushes. Usually their shelter is made using spruce branches.
Panicled
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 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 bush
Then the bush is earthed up within the stems. This will save the root system from freezing, and, therefore, the plant will retain its basic functions.
When and how to clean the shelter
After wintering, hydrangea will be ready to remove the shelter after increasing the night temperature to +1 ° С. During this period, the growth of twigs and leaves on them is activated. In order not to "steam" the plant in a shelter, it is worth watching when the active period of vegetation begins.
The whole algorithm for preparing for the winter
A well-organized shelter for wintering will protect against freezing of the aerial part and the root system of the plant. First you need to prepare hydrangea: pruning, cultivating the ground near the bush. If everything is done correctly, then the flower will normally tolerate even severe frosts and will quickly recover after wintering.
