Preparing hydrangeas for winter.

Blooming well-groomed hydrangea will undoubtedly become your pride and the main attraction of the garden. In order for the hydrangea to bloom annually, it is necessary to provide it with proper care, an important part of which is the competent preparation of the plant for the winter period, since often some types of hydrangea freeze and this affects their further development and flowering. Some gardeners, faced with the first difficulties after an unsuccessful wintering, are ready to abandon the cultivation of hydrangea, considering it a capricious and fastidious plant, but this is not so. Hydrangea needs care, but these actions will not require superhuman efforts from you. With the information you need, you will be able to provide your plants with good care and properly prepare them for the winter, and they, in turn, will reward you with lush flowering next year.

What work needs to be done in the autumn.

Hydrangeas can be found both in the southern regions and in cooler latitudes. The first mentions of hydrangea are found in China and Japan, these countries can be considered the birthplace of the shrub. In Japan, hydrangea is called Ajisai, which can be translated as a purple flower that resembles the sun. " The climate there is not as harsh as in some regions of our country, so it is not surprising that in the autumn-winter period hydrangeas require additional care and protection from frost.

The main work on caring for a plant in the autumn months is as follows:

1. Hydrangea is moisture-loving, so even after the end of flowering, you need to continue to water it.
2. It is necessary to carry out the last autumn feeding so that the roots can store food for the winter.
3. It is necessary to cut the shrub, forming the crown.
4. It is necessary to cover the hydrangea for the winter.

All these work must be carried out at a certain time, then in the spring your hydrangea will be safe and sound, will come out of a state of dormancy and will actively begin to grow.

Watering hydrangeas in the fall.

Very often, with the end of hydrangea flowering and the onset of autumn, inexperienced gardeners stop watering the shrub, assuming that this is no longer necessary. If autumn is rainy, then yes, you can do without watering. But we must not forget that hydrangea is one of the most moisture-loving plants, and if there is not enough rain, then watering should in no case be stopped. The roots of a plant need to accumulate not only nutrients, but also moisture. By the end of summer, the plant is weakened, since all the forces were spent on flowering, therefore, in the little time that remains before the onset of frost, hydrangeas need to restore strength and make reserves of moisture and nutrients for the winter.

Regardless of which variety of hydrangea grows in your garden, the soil under it should not be allowed to be completely dry, since any hydrangea reacts poorly to a lack of moisture. In the autumn period it is imperative to water the hydrangea, but the amount of watering must be controlled depending on the night air temperature. If it drops below +5 degrees, then the amount of irrigation must be reduced. When night temperatures drop to 0 degrees, watering the hydrangea can be stopped.

But we must not forget that excess moisture can be no less destructive than its lack, therefore, in a rainy autumn, you should protect the hydrangea from waterlogging. Trunk circles can be covered with foil during rain, and a temporary canopy can be installed over the bushes to protect them from rain.If the root system absorbs too much moisture, then the plant can also be damaged in severe frost. Of course, in such weather, no additional watering is needed.

Many types of hydrangea do not tolerate winter well and freeze without additional shelter. But at the same time there is a hydrangea variety called Arborescens, these shrubs, without additional shelter, are able to withstand frosts down to -30 degrees and remain completely viable.

Fertilization.

As we said above, by the beginning of autumn, the hydrangea is weakened and it needs to replenish its supply of nutrients. With the end of flowering, the vegetation process does not stop, during this period it, on the contrary, is very active, since there is very little time left for recovery and preparation for winter. In September, the last feeding should be done, which will provide the hydrangea with everything it needs. The fertilizer should contain phosphorus and potassium.
If in the spring time nitrogen was the main component of fertilizers, then starting from the middle of summer, nitrogen fertilization must be abandoned. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of new branches, they will not have time to get strong enough before the onset of cold weather, which means that they are very likely to freeze out in winter.
Phosphorus-potassium feeding can be done in two stages. The first time is in the second half of August, and the last feeding should be done no later than mid-September, while fertilizers can not be diluted in water, but scattered dry in the near-stem circle of the hydrangea and mixed with the soil. Make sure that the fertilizer does not touch the roots of the plant, as this can lead to root burns. The amount of fertilizer depends on the age and size of the plant. A small bush will need one handful of granular fertilizer, while a large plant will need twice the fertilizer.

How to properly prune a hydrangea for the winter.

On this issue, the opinions of gardeners differ: some prefer to prune the plant in the spring before the start of sap flow, while others recommend pruning the hydrangea in the fall.

Spring pruning has its drawbacks. If you missed the moment or, due to inexperience, pruned after the sap flow began, then this can lead to the death of the plant, since pathogenic microbes, viruses and pests penetrate the plant through the sections. And also juice flows out through the slices, which significantly weakens the plant.

You also need to remember that not every hydrangea variety needs pruning. In some varieties, flower stalks are laid only on the shoots of the last year. Therefore, if you prune such a hydrangea every year, it will never bloom in you.
Varieties that form inflorescences on young shoots of the current year can and should be pruned, this will simultaneously be both rejuvenating and sanitary pruning. Therefore, in the autumn, before picking up the pruner, clarify what type your hydrangea belongs to, whether it needs pruning, and how exactly it should be prepared for winter.

There are two options for fall pruning: radical and cosmetic.
Radical pruning is carried out every year, this is true for hydrangeas that form flowers on the shoots of the current year. Pruning is necessary to rejuvenate the plant. The shoots of the second year form significantly fewer flowers, and they need no less nutrients than the rest of the branches, therefore, they weaken the plant. By making room for young shoots by pruning, you stimulate more lush flowering. Inside a bush that is too thick, an environment is created that is favorable for the development of diseases and the spread of harmful insects. The roots of dense bushes are depleted, this also negatively affects the size and number of flowers. Therefore, in order to maintain the health and beautiful appearance of the hydrangea, it must be cut off annually.

Cosmetic or sanitary pruning serves a different purpose.With its help, diseased or broken branches are removed, the bush is thinned out in the case of too much young growth in order to avoid thickening of the bush. When starting to trim, make sure your tools are sharp enough and be sure to disinfect them before starting work. Damaged or broken shoots should be cut as close to the ground as possible.
For the first three or four years, hydrangeas only need sanitary pruning, and in the future they will need annual rejuvenation. However, you can only delete up to three old branches at a time. If you overdo it with pruning, it will only harm the plant, so rejuvenation should be carried out gradually.
If all the autumn work was carried out correctly, then next summer hydrangeas will delight you with beautiful flowers.

How to cover a hydrangea for the winter.

On this issue, the opinions of flower growers also differ. Some believe that hydrangea winters well without additional shelter, others argue that if you do not cover the plant, then it will certainly die. The paradox is that both growers are right, because the decision about the need to shelter hydrangeas must be made based on several factors:

1. What kind of hydrangea grows in your garden? How winter hardy is it? The answers to these questions will tell you if the plant needs shelter.
2. In which region is your site located? If in the south of the country, where the winter is quite mild, then the hydrangea need not be covered. And if you live in cold regions with frosty winters, then even the most frost-resistant variety will need shelter.
3. Humidity of soil and air in your area. Gardeners rarely take this indicator into account, but it is very important and must be taken into account, since insufficient or excessive moisture can lead to freezing of the plant.

In the autumn, after the last feeding, the near-stem circle of the hydrangea should be mulched, and with the onset of the first frost, the branches of the plant can also be covered. You can act in two ways: bend the branches to the ground, following the example of a vine, or (if the branches are not flexible enough) collect them in a bunch and build a shelter in the form of a pyramid or a cylinder around this bunch.

Do not use plastic wrap to cover the hydrangea, as it is highly likely that, due to the high humidity under the film, the plant will begin to rot. It is better to opt for geotextiles, burlap or old blankets, and fill the space under them with dry foliage, sawdust or spruce branches.

Conclusion.

Any, even the most unpretentious plant, requires care if you expect a good result, be it a lush flowering or a rich harvest. Hydrangea is not overly demanding, but in order to enjoy its bloom, you will have to pay attention to it, a little, but regularly. If all autumn work is carried out correctly, then this will be the key to beautiful flowering for the next year. Do not believe those who say that hydrangea is capricious, try to grow it yourself and you will succeed!