Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It should only be planted outdoors in early to mid summer as it needs time to acclimate to outdoor conditions before winter arrives. If you live in areas colder than zone 9, move your potted hydrangeas inside for the winter. Trust in the plants and let the sun take care of the rest. The reason you need to be so cognizant of frost and cold damage is that most varieties of hydrangeas begin to cultivate new bloom growth during the … Depending upon the variety, th e sun requirements may differ. The first step in proper winter care is to cut back any old wood down to the base. You’ll also be happy to hear that winter care requires nominal effort. Every hydrangea has a different tolerance and even though they all can handle a certain amount of cold, ensure that you have a variety appropriate for your climate. (See below.). If possible, bring in your plants and keep them inside for the winter. Use a generic slow release fertilizer designed for woody plants. Place the hydrangea into the hole and then cover it with more soil until you reach the top of the shrub. Copyright © Canada Wide Media Limited. Winter Care of Climbing Hydrangea. Properly caring for your potted hydrangea over winter will determine how successful the blooms are in the following summer, and how many you get. Caring for Potted Hydrangeas in Winter Fortifying the Hydrangeas Fertilize the soil around the plant in mid-summer. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you have very large established plants then they have been left to the elements, once established this is usually not a problem, especially for plants in the ground. Hydrangeas are woody shrubs with bright beautiful heads of flowers. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Hydrangea macrophylla & hydrangea serrata species most commonly require winter protection. They display big clusters of showy blue, pink, or white blossoms in summer and have large, robust green leaves. Hydrangeas, as you are probably well aware, are a great patio container plant. petiolaris) is rated hardy in zones 4 through 7 or 8. BCLiving keeps you in the know on everything West Coast, highlighting local trends, eats, entertainment and travel ideas. – J & k Digital Media Ltd, the owner of this website hydrangeaguide.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking pyracantha.co.uk to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.co.uk. However, if you live in a climate where the ground freezes in winter, it's important to be sure the hydrangea plant is properly protected before cold weather sets in. If not you may want to move the plants to a nursery pot that can be placed inside the decorative pot during the growing season. Pots can also be wrapped in fleece or lagging to protect the pots and the plants roots in really bad winters. Over winter, you can keep the pot in a cool place, like a greenhouse, garage or balcony. Ensure that the containers they’re planted in have adequate drainage, as poor drainage can do serious damage to the plants. Carefully wrap the stems using burlap or spunbonded polypropylene ("Reemay" is one of many brands) and/or fill the cage with a lightweight mulch (pine straw, hay, straw, deciduous leaves). Shrubs in containers add beauty, form, and architectural elements, but they need special attention to protect them from harsh, freezing temperatures. The key to healthy potted hydrangeas lies in their care. Otherwise your hydrangeas will be just fine, requiring the same maintenance and care as they would out in the garden. Use standard, sterilized potting mixes for houseplants for your potted hydrangea. Hydrangeas grown in the ground are usually fine left to defend for themselves, unfortunately, potted plants are more exposed and will require some sort of protection from frost. Water the new plant until you note that the water has made its way all the way through the soil. The reason you need to be so cognizant of frost and cold damage is that most varieties of hydrangeas begin to cultivate new bloom growth during the spring/summer/fall. We live in zone 5 and are wondering if this plant requires any special care for winter.