Yandex how to cover hydrangeas for the winter. Personal experience

In the Moscow region, large-leaved hydrangeas, any hydrangeas of the first year of planting, and some varieties of tree-like hydrangeas need special shelter for the winter. For different types, groups and varieties of hydrangea shelters are different. Some bushes simply mulch and fall asleep for the winter, for others they prepare a tunnel shelter with arcs, and still others need a real house with a roof and warm walls. You will have to tinker with some types of shelters, but this way you will surely save ornamental shrub until next season.

Shelter of panicled hydrangea for the winter

Panicled hydrangeas are the most winter-hardy. For example, hydrangea Vanilla Fraze . Without shelter, they can withstand up to -40 ° C. Compulsory training by winter, mulching of the root system is for them, it saves the roots from freezing and provides additional nutrition in the spring.

adult bushes paniculate hydrangea mulch with a layer of sphagnum, and on top of it - with two buckets of compost. In the spring, melted snow will deliver nutrition to the roots and increase the acidity of the soil so beloved by hydrangeas due to sphagnum.

Shelter of hydrangeas of a new planting for the winter

Before sheltering for the winter, the hydrangeas of the first year of planting are cut to a height of 50 cm and a hut is built from rods or bars around. First-year hydrangeas must be tied, they are highly susceptible to breaking from snow, especially in the first winter. On top of the hut, a bag of burlap is lowered. A particularly good cover is the old dense burlap, it is made more soundly than modern.

In December, frequent thaws with rains are possible in the Moscow region, so a bag can be put on top of a burlap cone, in early February it must be removed. The length of the burlap should be to the ground, root system mulch with a bucket of earth or humus. Burlap shelters must be tied with a rope so that it does not blow away during winter snowstorms.

Shelter tree hydrangea for the winter

The old tested varieties of tree-like hydrangea, familiar to us from white-green hats, do not need shelter. But the modern varieties created on their basis are slightly less winter-hardy, among them such varieties as Invincible Spirit , Bella Anna , Incredibol and Annabelle .

They are covered in the same way as first-year hydrangeas. Over time, when the bushes become higher than half a meter, the burlap is replaced with a ready-made non-woven cover or the hut is wrapped with a sheet of covering material, it is also tied with a rope on top, and the root system is mulched.

Shelter of large-leaved hydrangea for the winter

Plant varieties of this group are distinguished by the brightest and largest caps, their flowering always delights, however, large-leaved hydrangea requires increased attention to itself. Her winter shelter should be especially careful.

With the threat of the first frosts, I cover the plants with non-woven material, lower it onto the arcs. Hydrangea lays flower buds next year already in September and continues to form them until the onset of stable cold weather, so it is important to protect the buds from frost. When the night temperature drops to -5 ° C, and during the day it will be positive, I begin to lay the hydrangea.

Photo: hydrangea shelter before the first frost

How to bend hydrangea branches under shelter for the winter

The most winter-hardy group endless summer , consisting of three varieties Ze Bride , Original and Bloomstar . Adult bushes build up numerous shoots and it’s impossible to bend them in one direction, so I do this. I divide the bush into two parts, I bend each in opposite directions and press it with arcs (I bend young bushes in one direction without dividing).

As a rule, it is impossible to bend the branches in one go to the ground. First I bend them to 45 °, and after a week they already calmly lie on the ground. I cover the base of the bush with dry sphagnum, with a layer of at least 30 cm. If there is no moss at hand, you can replace it with a bucket of dry earth or compost. After such a procedure, I again cover the laid hydrangeas, but already with a double layer of non-woven fabric.

Pruning hydrangea before shelter for the winter

Before shelter, I cut off the shoots by 20-30 cm, I cut the weak ones completely from the base of the bush. Be sure to remove the leaves, I do it only with scissors. You can’t peel off with your hands, because along with the sheet it stretches and upper layer bark.

When the temperature drops to minus 8-10 ° C at night, I choose a dry day with a plus temperature during the day and finally cover the hydrangeas:

I put spruce branches, plywood or boards under the laid branches to isolate them from the ground,
I wrap the branches with a double layer of non-woven fabric, pushing it under the arcs,
on top of the covering material I put a sheet of cardboard and also push it under the arcs,
I put arcs on top double layer covering material (for varieties outside the "endless summer" group, less frost-resistant, I put not two, but 4 layers of non-woven fabric).

It turns out some air layer between the lower non-woven, which is under the arcs, and the upper one, which lies on top of the arcs. This layer is the key to a successful wintering of hydrangeas, reliably saving them from frost. I put a layer of film on top of the covering material.

Photo: Hydrangea pruning for a strong bud

How to cover a large-leaved hydrangea for the winter without bending down

Among large-leaved hydrangeas there are varieties, for example, Aubergine , which grow thick absolutely rigid shoots up to 3-4 cm in diameter. Such a hydrangea hibernates standing up. In several steps I cut it to 30 cm in height, the main thing is to suppress pity in myself and carry out the maximum pruning, because the lower the shelter, the more likely it will be completely covered with snow. In such a hydrangea, it is important to keep literally a few of the lowest buds, which will give lush flowering.

How to cover a hydrangea with a box

I first tighten the hydrangea branches with a wide garden bandage.
cooking wooden box according to the size of the plant and lower it onto a hydrangea bush.
I fill the hydrangea to the top with dry earth.
I put a plywood roof on top and wrap the box with cardboard.
I prepare a box a little larger by 10-15 cm and lower it from above to the previous one.
I fill the space between the boxes with sawdust or dry foliage.
I wrap the outer box with cardboard and 4 layers of the thickest covering material, on top with a film, for reliability I tie it with a rope.

A single shelter for hydrangeas for the winter

Well, if all large-leaved hydrangeas are sitting side by side, then you can make a single shelter, and not a point one. With a single shelter, the earth freezes less, which means that wintering will be more successful.

Despite the apparent difficulties, there is also a pleasant moment - every year the stems of large-leaved hydrangea become more and more woody, adapting to the conditions of the Moscow region and increasing winter hardiness. Continuous flowering from July to October and completely justifies all the autumn chores.

Svetlana Samoilova, amateur florist, collector of rare plants

Read more about how to grow a beautiful ornamental shrub in the garden, read on agrognom.ru and in the articles:

LARGE-LEAVED HYDROANGIAS

One of the most capricious representatives of the genus. Distinctive feature- large spherical inflorescences, usually blue or pink flowers. Inexperienced gardeners like to start their acquaintance with them, since the temptation to have these flowering beauties in their garden is too great.

But in order for such a hydrangea to please with flowering not only in the year of purchase, a lot of effort is required. These European sissies need careful shelter for the winter, as they bloom mostly on last year's shoots. If you do not save the young buds in the axils of the leaves, you can forget about flowering next summer. AT best case frozen hydrangea will give only abundant greenery.

Preparation of large-leaved hydrangeas for wintering must be planned in advance: starting from mid-September, gradually remove all leaves from the lower half of the bush. This will stimulate the lignification of the shoots and increase their frost resistance. If the first frost threatens, remove the remaining leaves and cut off all the florets.

In conditions middle lane I make a simple shelter for my hydrangeas for the winter: I lay out the branches on the ground with the “sun”, pinning them with staples.

When establishing stable negative temperatures I throw spruce branches and double lutrasil on top. So that the covering material is not blown away by the wind, along the periphery in several places I press down the structure with flat stones or bricks. Such a pie does not look very aesthetically pleasing, but the very first snow will reliably hide an unsightly shelter.

In this form, pressed to the ground and securely wrapped in snow, hydrangeas winter safely, and next year they bloom remarkably.

TREE HYDROANGIAS

Often referred to as "regular" hydrangeas. They have a sprawling bush and spherical inflorescences of white, less often pink flowers. These hydrangeas are more winter-hardy than large-leaved ones, but in cold snowless winters they can freeze slightly. However, due to the fact that tree-like hydrangeas bloom on shoots current year, this does not affect their decorative effect in the next season.

These hydrangeas do not require special preparation for winter, with the exception of removing faded inflorescences. late autumn. But I would recommend warming the root system of tree hydrangeas with peat, humus or fallen leaves. Especially this
concerns pink varieties. So it will be more comfortable for them to endure the winter cold, and you will be calmer for your pets.

Panicled Hydrangeas

The most unpretentious and winter-hardy representatives of the world of hydrangeas. It is very easy to distinguish a paniculate hydrangea from others by inflorescences - they have the shape of a pyramid, or panicle (hence the name). It is to them that I give preference in my garden, as they are the best suited to our harsh climate. but paniculate hydrangeas also need minimal preparation for high-quality wintering.

So that the snow does not break fragile shoots, after the onset of frosty days, it is necessary to cut off all faded inflorescences from the bush with a sharp pruner, capturing part of the shoot just below the base of the panicle.

An exception can be made for moth varieties - snow easily penetrates loose flowers without lingering, therefore it cannot harm. I leave these hydrangeas uncut in the garden for a winter decorative effect.

It is better to cover the root system of young bushes planted this year with any mulching material with a layer of at least 10-15 cm. To do this, you can take leaves, coniferous litter, peat or humus. Try to cover only the ground, without touching the shoots. Adult hydrangeas do not need such shelter, but it will not be superfluous either.

panicle pruning pruning stages in october

What else needs to be done in the fall for a good wintering of hydrangeas?

In addition to shelter measures, for all types of hydrangeas without exception, on the eve of cold weather, it is good to carry out phosphorus-potassium top dressing. I use superphosphate and potassium sulfate for these purposes. However, it is important to remember that the introduction mineral fertilizers must be completed by early September. Later use of fertilizers will not bring the desired benefit, as it will not have time to be absorbed by the plant to the right extent. These simple actions will save them from the harmful effects of the cold and allow you to pass the time without worry until the onset of spring. Information on the care of hydrangeas during the season, as well as detailed instructions for pruning different types of hydrangeas can be found on my blog at Instagram @my_sadik.
Wish you beautiful gardens and luxuriously blooming hydrangeas.

Visible behind the fence of almost every garden plot. Large, with caps of inflorescences, smaller and more modest, or only in leaves. The decorative effect of this popular and not too picky shrub is influenced by the climate, the weather during the growing season, its age and, of course, our concern. What can be done in the fall to ensure hydrangeas look healthy and bloom profusely next summer? First of all, this is the correct pruning and competent shelter for the winter.

Often, gardeners wonder whether it is necessary to carry out autumn pruning of hydrangeas. Some flower growers spend it only in the spring, and some do without pruning at all, preferring not to injure the plant in any way. Experience shows that in order to preserve the hydrangea, the annual abundant flowering and creating the desired shape of the bush, carefully thought out and correctly carried out pruning is needed.

Attention! When not correct pruning hydrangea may not bloom at all.

It all depends on the type of plant. Paniculata, tree-like and large-leaved hydrangeas are the most loved and widespread. Other species are also cultivated - Bretschneider's hydrangea, petiolate, serrate, ashy. The first of them bloom on the shoots of the current year, others - on last year's.

hydrangea bloom

According to the type of flowering, hydrangeas are divided into two groups, requiring a different approach to pruning. They are represented by:

the first group - large-leaved hydrangea;
the second group is paniculate and tree-like hydrangeas.

Pruning hydrangeas of the first group

Paniculata hydrangea should be cut like a tree, without touching the skeletal branches. If there are several shoots growing from the same place, keep only those that grow outward. Remove old and damaged shoots. Remember, panicled hydrangea loves moderate pruning and will respond to it. big amount panicle inflorescences. At the same time at in large numbers shoots accumulating from year to year thicken, the plant weakens, the inflorescences become smaller.

Attention! The purpose of pruning young panicled hydrangeas is the formation of a bush, adults - thinning and rejuvenation.

With the help of pruning, you can get the usual bush or standard form(a kind of bouquet on a stick, very impressive).

For tree-like hydrangeas, only sanitary pruning is carried out in autumn, removing bruised, dried up or damaged shoots by pests. Remove dry inflorescences. Do you want to rejuvenate the bush? Cut it ruthlessly, leaving no more than 10 cm shoots.

Hydrangea pruning scheme

Pruning hydrangeas of the second group

In autumn, young shoots that have not yet bloomed cannot be cut off from large-leaved hydrangeas, because flower buds have already been formed on them, which will bloom next summer. Target autumn pruning- Sanitation of the bush and its rejuvenation. In this type of hydrangea, the shoots live fruitfully for 4-6 years. Every fall, cut back to the base part of the old shoots - you will get strong replacement shoots and good flowering.

Advice. To give the bush a compact shape and maintain it, completely cut out slanting and crossing shoots.

How to save hydrangeas in winter - shelter for the winter

Before leaving for the winter, decide whether you need to cover the hydrangea in your area:

evaluate the climatic features of winter in your region:
evaluate the winter hardiness of hydrangeas;
select suitable type shelters.

Attention! Wintering affects the survival of the plant, its condition in the future growing season, the duration and quality of flowering.

According to the decrease in winter hardiness, the types of hydrangeas are arranged in this order:

paniculate;
treelike;
large-leaved.

Paniculata hydrangea tolerates cold better than other species. She can overwinter without shelter, and if she freezes, she will quickly recover in the spring. It is enough for her to make mulching trunk circle- to protect the root system.

Pruning will help hydrangeas rejuvenate

The next species in terms of cold resistance is tree-like hydrangea. mature plant can survive the winter well without shelter, also with a mulched trunk circle. In young plants in cold winters, young shoots often freeze slightly.

Large-leaved hydrangea is thermophilic. Pass the winter period without shelter, it can only if the bush is small, bent to the ground and completely covered with snow from 70 cm thick.

Advice. Large-leaved hydrangea and young (up to 4 years old) bushes of paniculate and tree-like hydrangea should be covered for the winter.

Prepare the hydrangea for the upcoming winter: a few weeks before the shelter, stop watering, go with nitrogen fertilizers on phosphorus-potassium; immediately before shelter, remove dry leaves, except for the top ones of the large-leaved species (they will protect the flower buds from the cold).

Ways to shelter hydrangeas for the winter

First way- leaves. Follow the steps:

tie the branches with a rope;
tilt the branches to the ground and fix them, for example, with wire pins or a rope to the driven pegs;
fill the plant with foliage;
fix the shelter, for example, with stones.

Second way- spruce spruce branches. Follow the steps:

cover the soil around the bush with spruce branches;
lay the shoots on the spruce branches;
fix the shoots on the spruce branches;
lay another layer of spruce branches on top;
cover with covering material or a simple cloth;
secure cover.

Shelter will help hydrangeas endure the winter

Third way- air-dry shelter. Follow the steps:

sprinkle the base of the bush with dry earth;
tilt the bush, but not too close to the ground;
fix inclined shoots;
install a low frame of boards or wire so that the snow completely covers it and is strong enough to withstand a layer of snow;
cover the frame with non-woven material, thick paper, from above - with water- and light-tight material; leave holes for ventilation;
after the onset of cold weather and snowfall, close the openings.

Organize a reliable wintering for your hydrangea and in the summer you will observe it in all its glory.

Hydrangea care in the garden: video

Preparation of hydrangeas for winter begins in the summer. From the second half of summer, you need to stop fertilizing with nitrogen, and watering in early autumn. This will contribute to better maturation, woody shoots, and therefore increase the plant's chances of a successful wintering.

The way you prepare hydrangeas for winter will depend primarily on the climatic conditions of your area and the type of hydrangea growing in your garden.

Hydrangeaandhydrangea paniculata- fairly cold-resistant species, some of its varieties can withstand temperatures down to minus 35 ° C, and in the middle zone in a warm winter they need only strong pruning and light shelter of the near-stem circle. Leave 2-4 buds on the shoots, and remove the entire upper part. From above, it is enough to sketch the branches and cover the bushes with foliage. And only young bushes need to be covered more carefully.

In spring, the plant quickly recovers. If the bushes were not pruned in the spring in the spring, trim and fertilize as early as possible. A slight frost will not affect flowering, as flower buds form much later on shoots that have grown this spring.

Hydrangea macrophylla on the contrary, it is not cut off for the winter, since its flowering buds have already been laid on the shoots of the previous year, they need to be saved as much as possible in winter if you want to see thick large inflorescences on your bush.

There may be several options for sheltering hydrangeas for the winter - choose the most suitable for you.

Lay the shoots of large-leaved hydrangea on pre-laid boards, press them on top with other boards, then lay nonwoven fabric, folded in several layers and covered with leaves, sawdust or peat on top. If the shoots do not fit well, place rollers or bags of leaves under the branches at the base of the bush, this will protect the stems from fractures. The same bags filled with fallen leaves can additionally cover the plants around the periphery in a harsh winter.

You can pour a bucket of peat or garden soil into the center of the bush, spread the branches on spruce branches (“sun” or “fan”, it doesn’t matter), press or pin them with iron staples, cover again with spruce branches, cover with leaves from above and cover with film or brand 30 lutrasil which are pressed down with bricks and planks.

In the spring, the shelter is removed in late March-early April, when sap flow begins and they pass very coldy. The freed shoots will soon rise.

Air-dry method of sheltering bushes for the winter
Another way - you can not bend the bushes, but tie them, wrap them with lutrasil or burlap, build a mesh frame around and fill it with dry foliage. If necessary, the structure can be covered with lutrasil, film, roofing material.

hydrangea, growing in tubs removed to the basement enclosed spaces or dig into a deep trench, cover wooden box, then lutrasil, foliage, and on top plastic wrap or other waterproof material.

Preparation of hydrangeas for winter also depends on the age of the plant: if young bushes of any kind require a thick warm “fur coat”, then cold resistance increases with age and sheltering the hydrangea becomes less difficult and less troublesome.

For many years, hydrangeas have firmly taken their place not only in gardens and flower beds, but also in the hearts of flower lovers. Novice gardeners are frightened by the capriciousness of the plant. Consider the care and preparation in the fall on the eve of winter, so that hydrangeas will delight you for many years.

treelike and paniculate endure the cold of the middle lane and the suburbs, even Siberian frosts, heavy snowfalls protect the bush. If this plant is frozen, it is easily restored in the spring.

The youngest bushes should be covered from the wind with covering material, spruce branches, etc. It is worth protecting plants from the cold if the winters in your region are not snowy, but with frost.

For the rest, it is enough just to spud the bushes, at the beginning of autumn, remove all the leaves, leaving only the top ones, so that the bush becomes “wooden” faster.

The most demanding winter shelter turned out to be a large-leaved and petiolate liana-shaped hydrangea, which does not tolerate even slight frosts. The latter must, if necessary, be removed from the support.

You need to cover before the thermometer drops to -3 degrees

Methods and options for sheltering hydrangeas and preparing for winter

Sawdust, branches and foliage

Prepare a bedding of sawdust, spruce branches around the plant, even dry leaves will do. Lower the shoots to the sides from the center of the bush to the ground, in a circle. Secure them with staples, branch horns, etc.

Any blanket will serve material like spunbond, lutrasil, agroteka. The colder the winter, the more layers will be required. Lapnik, etc. can be alternated with covering material, sawdust.

It is acceptable to use compost soil as the penultimate layer. Last layer to choose from: roofing felt, wooden shield, film. Reinforce it with bricks or stones so that gusts of wind do not tear off the shelter.

You can collect shoots, tie them together and bend them to the ground. Fasten with staples or in another way and “cover” with the same sawdust, spruce branches, foliage.

On the sides build supports using scrap materials. Lay an agrotech (lutrasil, etc.) on them, and on top of that, something that will protect the plant from precipitation.

A warning to beginners: when bending branches to the ground, do not break them.

Tying shoots: what you need to prepare

If the hydrangea is very lignified, then tie the shoots together and wrap them in several layers with the available agrofibre. Fence the bush with a net or other materials (planks, stakes) so that the frame is 15-20 cm higher than the plant.

Inside (between the fence and the bush) pour sawdust, needles or foliage. From above, use a film, roofing material, etc.

Shelter by air-dry method

The framework that has already been discussed is used. We cover it with covering material in several layers so that it sags a little.

If a film is used on top, pull it taut, then the air between the layers of our “quilt” will allow to keep additional heat.

The advantages of this method:

protective layers cannot harm the plant
in case of warming, the bush will not rot
convenient to ventilate

Save the frame until next winter! It can be used for several years in a row, which will speed up the preparation for cold weather in the future.

The shelter method using frames is convenient in that you can make one for several plants.

Why and how to prune varieties for the winter

There is no consensus on the best time to prune plants. Need to catch up in the spring prune while dormant. Autumn time on garden work usually more. no risk of being late.

Flower buds are laid in the summer, that is, it blooms on last year's shoots.

It is permissible for her to shorten the branches to form beautiful shape bush, removal of dead shoots. Autumn pruning is preferred.

Dried flowers are removed in autumn. In the spring, sanitary pruning is shown, weak and damaged branches are removed. One-year-old shoots are shortened, keeping no more than five buds. Young shoots will appear quickly, flowering will become more abundant.

Cut like a tree, removing old and interfering shoots without touching the main ones. If hydrangea rejuvenation is required, it is possible cardinal pruning, to a height of 10 cm from the ground.

If the bush is large, do not rush to cut it off entirely, stretch the procedure for 3 years. Paniculata hydrangea forms flower buds on the shoots of the current year. They form on branches over two years old.

In autumn and spring, the same pruning activities are carried out as with tree hydrangeas. In the future, pruning is shaping, depending on the type of crown desired.

It is important to remove inflorescences, since the thin branches with soft wood of the paniculate hydrangea suffer due to the accumulation of snow.

We described in detail the subspecies of this variety in the article.

Highly lush bush, blooming on the shoots of the current year, but its pruning is only shortening the stems and forming a crown.

The first 4 years are very weak growth. Therefore, at this time it is not cut off. Then pruning to strong buds and sanitary is acceptable.

Her considered a form of large-leaved, but it is advised to prune as such shrubby species. These include hydrangeas:

oaky;
radiant;
ashy;
rough or rough;
Sargent, or Sargent;
motley.

They are cut to approx. as well as treelike or paniculate. Young bushes are not pruned, two-year-olds are only sanitary pruned, from the third year pruning to 2-3 strong buds

stimulating for lush flowering(retain 3-4 buds on the shoot);
sanitary(removal of diseased, damaged branches;
formative and thinning (to give a beautiful shape to the plant and to reduce the density of shoots);
rejuvenating pruning. On an adult plant, up to 10 strong shoots are preserved, of which no more than half are last year's. Shoots older than 4 years and those that give a weak increase are cut off at the root.

In large-leaved hydrangeas, only faded inflorescences are removed in autumn.

The main method of caring for a cut hydrangea is top dressing and mulching.

How to help hydrangeas recover after winter

In order for the plant to get out of the winter well, do not forget cut off lower leaves and stop watering the plant, then it will become stronger. With the onset of heat, gradually remove the layers of shelter, if you made it.

A large-leaved hydrangea can be fully opened when the temperature is above zero outside, not only during the day, but also at night.

Assess the condition of the plant after wintering, whether there are spots or blackness on the leaves. Severely affected shoots and leaves must be removed. Then treat with Bordeaux salt or copper preparations and repeat it after 2-3 weeks.

For prevention carry out regular treatment with universal preparations against fungi, bacterial infections, but not earlier than once every 21 days.

The first top dressing should contain potassium, phosphates and urea. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of new shoots and leaves.

Lush and colorful flowering will be the subject of your joy and pride. As noted in the article, large-leaved the most capricious.

Large-leaved proved to be the most fastidious in terms of care

It must be well wrapped up for the winter. In general, caring for hydrangea bushes is simple and comes down to proper pruning and regular feeding. The time spent is worth it to admire the results of labor.