How To Care For Hydrangeas Over Winter. In most hardiness zones you can leave hydrangeas on your patio unprotected as they are very cold hardy. Add an extra layer of mulch leaves or pine straw up to 6 to 8 inches high to provide tender buds protection from drastic temperature changes cold nights and high winter winds McEnaney says.
Wrap chicken wire around the stakes to form a cage. One way to water hydrangeas in the winter is to make a small hole of a big bucket and place filled with water at the base of the plant allowing the water to trickle out slowly. Feeding your hydrangeas surrounding soil with nutrients will also help it stay healthy during the winter.
Make sure your container will withstand the rigors of winter.
Protect Hydrangeas Over Winter With Mulch The mulchs job is to create a more consistent environment than what is happening outside says Ryan McEnaney from Bailey Nurseries. Concurrently remove any weak or dead branches by also cutting them off at the base. Proper Hydrangea outdoor winter care can certainly determine the success and quantity of next summers blooms. Suggestions for Winter Protection Most methods of protection start with a frame around the hydrangea.