HYDRANGEAS AND FALL ACTIVITY

Many of you have probably seen bits and pieces about hydrangeas and fall activity. In fact, I have been sourced on several of those articles. Fall officially arrived last week and that is the starting bell to consider what you need to do with your hydrangeas.  SOME EARLIER POSTS ON HYDRANGEAS AND FALL ACTIVITY You…

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PREPARING HYDRANGEAS FOR WINTER

Statue of boy in snow

We have had a few nights where the temps have dipped into the high 30s, a sobering reminder that it’s time for preparing hydrangeas for winter. Specifically, it’s time to wrap susceptible bigleaf (macrophylla) and mountain (serrata) hydrangeas. Those that aren’t planted in protected locations as I described in my other blog posts, HERE and HERE need…

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HYDRANGEA WINTER PROTECTION

Big Leaf Hydrangea being wrapped for winter

I woke up to a very dark 44 degrees F this morning, a stark reminder that I need to get organized to do some hydrangea winter protection. Those that aren’t planted in protected locations as I described in an earlier blog post need a little help if I want to give them their best chance…

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Time to Prepare Hydrangeas for Winter

It happened again – sudden freezing temps hit before my hydrangeas had a chance to harden off. Not a frost, but a solid freeze at 27 F that turned the birdbath turned into a skating rink. So sad to go outside and see what those temps did to my big leaf and mountain hydrangeas. Time…

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Report on 2020 Winter Impact on Hydrangeas

Hydrangea Macrophylla Blue Wave

It’s time to report on 2020 winter impact on my hydrangeas, a little later than I would have liked. I test both new and old introductions to the big leaf (macrophylla) and mountain (serrata) hydrangea families. Invariably, some plants produce few or no flowers. Then I examine why that happened. You can read previous reports…

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Deer Damage on Hydrangeas in Winter

Deer tracks in snow

This is the time of year to be alert to deer damage on hydrangeas. The winter weather pattern of deep cold, snow, and ice storms has made it increasingly difficult for them to get around and find food sources to sustain life. Deer tracks are the obvious tip off so here’s what to look for.

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2019 Winter Impact on Hydrangeas

Weather chart showing extremely low winter temperatures

Time to report on 2019 winter impact on hydrangeas. In early May, I went out to my Zone 5 garden to see what the past winter had done to my hydrangeas that bloom on old wood: big leaf (macrophylla) and mountain hydrangea (serrata). I also checked on the oak leaf (quercifolia) and climbing (petiolaris) hydrangeas I grow. 

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Shrub Covers for Hydrangea Winter Protection

DIY shrub cover from discarded pallets

I woke up to 37 degrees F this morning, a stark reminder that I need to prepare some of my bigleaf hydrangeas (macrophyllas) for winter. Those that aren’t planted in protected locations as I described in an earlier blog post, and  https://lorraineb.wpengine.com/reporting-winter…rangeas-part-two/need a little help if I want to give them their best chance of…

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