November 18, 2022

Winterizing Hydrangeas in Northeast Ohio

How to protect hydrangeas for winter

Two types of hydrangea benefit from winter protection in Northeast Ohio—the Bigleaf (macrophylla) family that produce mophead and lacecap-style blooms, and the Oakleaf (quercifolia) family that produce conical blooms on foliage that resembles an Oak tree. Read on to understand why winter protection is so important for these types, and learn exactly how to do it. Note hydrangeas in the Panicle (paniculata), Smooth (arborescens), and Mountain (serrata) families generally do not require winter protection.

Why prepare hydrangeas for winter

Varieties in the Bigleaf (macrophylla) and Oakleaf (quercifolia) hydrangea families bloom mostly on old wood, the plant’s growth from a previous season. And the buds that produce next year’s blooms start developing on the old wood in August. That means by fall, next spring’s flowers are already present on the stems in the form of buds that will rest over the long winter, then wake up next growing season to bloom. If the old wood stems are left unprotected all winter, the buds and stems may die off and, with them, next spring’s blooms. Even newer hybrid varieties that bud & bloom on both old wood and new wood (next season’s growth) should be protected to ensure the old wood stems stay alive and productive.   

Panicle (paniculata) and Smooth (arborescens) hydrangea varieties do not require protection because they bloom only, and reliably, on new wood. Mountain (serrata) hydrangea varieties do not require winter protection because, though they resemble Bigleaf (macrophylla) in foliage and flower style, and also bloom mainly on old wood, they are much more winter hardy.

how winter desiccation happens

In the case of Bigleaf (macrophylla) and Oakleaf (quercifolia) hydrangea varieties, the stems and buds tend to get desiccated over the Northeast Ohio winters. It’s not the cold and snowy weather that hurts the plants, it’s the drying winter winds that steal moisture from the stems. Fortunately, taking just a few steps in fall to winterize your hydrangea plants can go a long way to protect next year’s blooms by preventing that winter desiccation.

How to winterize planted hydrangeas

  1. Wait until mid-November to apply protective measures to your hydrangea. A good sign that it’s the right time is when the shrub’s leaves have fallen.
  2. Strip any remaining leaves that are still hanging on, and remove leaf litter from the base of the plant.
  3. Trim off spent blooms, making short cuts just a couple nodes down from the flower head, so as to avoid cutting sections of the stem with buds.
  4. Spray mist the stems all around with Wilt Stop®, a natural anti-desiccant spray that helps to seal in the moisture present in the stems.
  5. Wrap the entire plant with burlap, securing the material so it will not blow away over winter.
  6. Apply mulch 4–8” deep around the base of the plant in late November or early December as a protective layer of insulation for the plant and its roots.

winterizing hydrangeas in a pot

For potted hydrangeas, and this applies to all types/families, protecting roots from freezing over winter is the key. Once your plant has gone fully dormant (leaves have fallen), follow the steps below:

  1. Move the pot into the garage. In an unheated garage, place it onto a board to keep it from having direct contact with the bare, cold floor, and surround it with “stuff” or naturally insulating materials.
  2. Water the pot lightly, about once per month.
  3. When new growth begins in spring, slowly acclimate the plant to the outdoors again.

help your plants survive for spring

As fall unfolds and the winter season approaches, it’s important to prepare your hydrangea shrubs for winter. All hydrangeas are deciduous plants, and should not be fed until next spring. Spent flowers can be deadheaded, but do not hard prune the woody stems; leave them standing for winter. Make sure the plant is well watered through fall, until the ground soil freezes. And, for any hydrangea varieties in the Bigleaf (macrophylla) and Oakleaf (quercifolia) families, follow the above steps as winter protection for next year’s buds and blooms.

View Winter Protection Gardening Guide

Search for Your Location

We have nine locations across Northeast Ohio, spanning the Cleveland, Akron-Canton, and Youngstown communities. Search here to find the location most convenient for you.

Loading Locations...