Rules for covering hydrangeas for the winter in the Moscow region and Siberia

For centuries, hydrangea has delighted people with its grace and unique beauty. As early as the 18th century, the flower attracted the attention of true connoisseurs of exoticism, adorning city parks and the gardens of palaces and mansions. When growing this plant yourself, it's important to understand how. cover hydrangea for the winter.

General information

Hydrangea is one of the most well-known representatives of exotic flora, comprising approximately 70-80 species. However, only a few can grow in the temperate latitudes of Russia with their harsh winters. Garden varieties are renowned for their profuse blooms and relative ease of care.

Among the popular varieties for the Russian Federation The following varieties are distinguished:

• Tree-like.
• Paniculate.
• Large-leaved.

The main challenge in maintaining this plant is providing effective winter cover, as it is extremely sensitive to cold and can be damaged by frost. The most winter-hardy variety is the panicle hydrangea. Some varieties can tolerate temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius. This is not surprising, as the variety's natural habitat is Sakhalin.

When sheltering this plant, simply covering the root system and protecting the soil around the trunk is sufficient. However, this measure is only necessary in extreme northern regions with harsh winters. In the Moscow region and central Russia, hydrangeas tolerate cold well even without covering. The stems of the paniculate variety rarely freeze, and flower buds form on shoots that grew this year.

The arborescens hydrangea also boasts good frost resistance. However, in harsh conditions, it should be completely covered with soil in autumn to prevent young shoots from freezing. However, even if this procedure is ignored, the plant will survive the winter and its blooms will remain abundant. With the arrival of spring, the arborescens variety begins active recovery. Proper pruning of dead parts and application of fertilizer to the soil will only accelerate the process of active growth.

The least cold-tolerant hydrangea is the large-leaf hydrangea. This species is particularly popular and has up to 600 cultivars.

When wondering when to cover large-leaved hydrangea for the winter, it is important to consider the climatic conditions in which it grows, as well as the current weather conditions.

The importance of the procedure

Before you cover up garden hydrangea When preparing for winter, it's important to consider the type and variety of shrub. Plants that bloom on last year's stems should be protected first, as flower stalks form at the top of the shoot. The arrival of autumn frosts can seriously damage them if they aren't properly protected.

The following species are at high risk: Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea sargentiana. However, harsh climate conditions can also harm tree varieties. Furthermore, other species also require protection until they are two years old.

Some ornamental varieties can bloom on both previous and current year's shoots. However, this is only possible with careful preparation of the bush for winter.

If a gardener is content with a one-time bloom in late summer or early fall, the winter covering procedure can be simplified. Simply trim the bush so that 3-5 buds remain, then cover it with dry leaves or spruce branches.

Preparing for winter

Every caring gardener must understand, How to prepare hydrangea Prepare for winter in the Moscow region. This will ensure successful cultivation of this attractive plant, and abundant flowering. Preparatory work should begin in the fall, removing lower leaves and suspending watering. These measures promote rapid woodiness of young shoots. Also, before the first serious frost, remove all foliage except for the upper leaflets, as these serve to protect flower buds.

To help the plant develop a strong immune system, it needs to be fed with various mineral fertilizers. Wintering will be especially favorable if potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are added to the soil. However, it's best to avoid nitrogen fertilizers, as they stimulate foliar growth.

Covering the crop is essential to prevent frost damage. If this step is ignored, young shoots will be destroyed or frozen during severe cold weather. If this happens, any dead shoots will need to be removed upon the return of spring.

Methods of shelter

Nowadays, gardeners use different ways to cover hydrangeas. The most common options include:

• The shoots are tied with rope and bent to the ground. Before this, boards with nails driven into them at a small distance from each other are placed on the ground. The plant is tied to these boards and covered with fallen leaves, and insulated with lutrasil with holes for air circulation. The young shoots are placed on spruce branches, weighed down with stones, and further compacted with leaves.
• Shelter large-leaved hydrangea for the winter In the Moscow region, another method is used. Dry leaves should be sprinkled on spruce branches around the bush. Then, shoots should be laid out in a circle and then covered with any suitable material. This could include branches, lutrasil, or sawdust, and then roofing felt or plastic film should be stretched over the structure.
• Another way to cover a flower is to install a mesh frame near the bush, covered with burlap, and line the remaining space with dry leaves. The top of the frame is sealed with a moisture-resistant, water-resistant material. Roofing felt can be used for this purpose.
• The plant is also covered with plywood, well before the first frost sets in. The branches are tied, pinned, and covered with soil or fallen leaves. A sheet of plywood is placed on top of this insulating layer, and to prevent the structure from being blown away by the wind, it is reinforced with stones.

Proper care

In addition to the key procedures for covering hydrangeas, it's important for gardeners to ensure proper care during their active growth period. Caring for this colorful shrub is not difficult. It is enough to carry out the following activities:

• Regular watering in the morning and evening with settled water at room temperature.
• Loosening the soil to ensure normal air supply to the roots.
• Removing weeds to clear the soil.
• Top dressing with mineral compounds.
• Pruning work in autumn.

The most important procedure for hydrangeas is watering. If they don't receive the necessary amount of life-giving moisture, they will die. However, stagnant water should also be avoided, as this will lead to rotting of the root system. The water used should be settled and warm.

If regular watering isn't possible, you'll need to add plenty of peat moss under the roots. This will increase the soil's acidity and help retain moisture.

The root system of the large-leaved hydrangea is located very close to the soil surface, so it's best to avoid planting it near trees or large bushes. Otherwise, the plant won't receive the necessary nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, it's essential to loosen the soil above the roots, being careful not to damage the fragile roots.

The next important step in hydrangea care is weed removal. This crop requires a constant supply of minerals and vitamins in the soil, and if it grows alongside weeds, the soil's fertility will significantly decrease. It's best to weed and loosen the soil, removing all weed roots.

Fertilizing and pruning

For the normal development of hydrangea bushes, it is important to regularly feed them with special mineral compounds that will promote good growth and lush flowering. Feeding activities are carried out as follows:

1. The first feeding consists of urea, potassium and superphosphate and is applied at the beginning of spring, when the crop emerges from hibernation and begins to grow actively.
2. A similar composition, but without urea, is applied in mid-summer, when the first buds appear on the bush.
3. After the flowering period is over, rotted compost or humus is added under the bush.

Pruning is a crucial step in proper care before winter. If this procedure is ignored, the plant will die with the first frosts of winter. Large-leaf hydrangea differs from other species in that it blooms on last year's growth. Therefore, when performing this work, it is essential to prune the plant short. This rule applies to both paniculate and arborescent varieties.

You can also do a little shortening of the stems., but completely removing shoots is only permissible if they have been damaged by frost or have dried out. Furthermore, gardeners should remove shoots that are four years old, as they are old and unable to produce profuse blooms during the warmer months.

Bigleaf hydrangea is renowned for its annual growth of new flowering shoots, so it's important to carefully protect them before winter, otherwise they will freeze and won't survive the coming winter. With proper protection, the plant will be reliably protected from the most severe cold, so it will surely reward its owner with lush and abundant blooms.

Only careful care and adherence to basic sheltering guidelines can protect such a colorful bush from freezing. These guidelines are essential for both temperate climates and harsh northern regions with intense winters.

Therefore, when figuring out how to cover large-leaved hydrangeas for the winter, it's important to follow basic rules and instructions from experienced gardeners to prevent the flowers from freezing. The covering used should be of the highest quality and densest possible quality, both for large-leaved hydrangeas with lush pink blooms and for other heat-loving varieties.

Spring opening

Large-leaved hydrangea is distinguished from other varieties by its fussiness and heat-loving nature. Caring for this plant can be a challenge for gardeners, but its unique blooms during warmer months make up for it. If the flowers have successfully survived the winter, and spring has arrived and the snow has melted, there's no need to rush to remove the winter cover.

After all, in the first days of spring, there's a risk of night frosts, which are extremely unacceptable for such a sensitive plant. Until the threat of freezing temperatures has completely passed, the bushes must be kept under reliable protection. Otherwise, the overwintered buds will freeze, and the hydrangea will be unable to bloom in the new season.

Experts recommend gradually acclimating hydrangeas to new weather conditions, opening them for short periods during the day and then closing them again. Naturally, this type of care requires the gardener to be at the dacha full-time, which isn't always possible. Therefore, it's important to be guided by what's possible and avoid mistakes that could ruin the plant.

First of all, when temperatures rise above freezing, ventilation is necessary. As temperatures continue to rise, covering materials, especially plastic film or roofing felt, can be removed, and alternatives can be sought. However, fully uncovering the plant is only permitted when consistently above-zero temperatures return.

Covering hydrangeas for the winter is a crucial step in caring for this delicate plant. If you don't follow the basic rules for protecting the plant from the cold, it will stop delighting you with its blooms and quickly freeze. Therefore, every gardener should understand how to properly insulate their garden hydrangeas, regardless of whether they're located in the Moscow region or in harsh Siberia.