How to Protect Hydrangeas from Winter Winds
I love hydrangeas….both heartier panicles & show-stopping Endless Summers. As I put my garden to bed for the year in Zone 6, with everything going dormant, I wondered “How to Protect Hydrangeas from Winter Winds?” Because most hydrangeas survive the cold pretty well: but it’s the wind which can really damage them…especially if they’re newly-planted. And I found a brilliant answer to this question earlier this fall, which I’ve already incorporated into my garden design….
How to Protect Hydrangeas from Winter Winds
There are two main things you can do to protect hydrangeas during the winter, especially from the wind. One is fairly obvious, while the other may not be….
- Add Mulch: Whether you’ve got Endless Summer hydrangeas or panicles ~ both can use an extra layer of mulch right on top of the root area, to keep them *warm* during wintertime. Almost all plants can use an extra layer of mulch before winter: it’s just a matter of how much work you want to do in the fall.
- **Surround Hydrangeas with OTHER Plants!! This is the tip that may not be so obvious: if you surround hydrangeas, especially big-leaf ones (panicles are naturally heartier), with other plants ~ such as tall Karl Foersters, trees, evergreens, native grasses, large shrubs, or boxwoods (i.e. things that do well during winter & have some height), this will protect your hydrangeas better than almost anything else, from punishing winter winds….which can really damage young or fragile hydrangeas.
Ways to Protect Hydrangeas in the Winter
- Surround them with other plants, ideally taller ones, to help protect them from high winds;
- Plant them closer to the home, where the ground is warmer;
- Plant hydrangeas near a high fence, which can also shield them from winds;
- Place them in pots around a She Shed, potting shed, pergola, or other man-made structure ~ which can help block high winds during the winter;
- If in pots: consider bringing them into the garage, a potting shed, or covering them with a blanket, burlap, or some other type of protection from cold & winds;
- If it’s too late to plant: get creative! Whether hydrangeas are in the ground or in pots ~ surround them with outdoor furniture, outdoor fountains, raised garden beds, other potted plants, tall wine barrels, outdoor ottomans….anything you can think of to give them some protection!
Shop for Hydrangea “Protectors!”
How to Protect Hydrangeas in Winter
Because hydrangeas are one of my favorite plants, I’ve written several articles about them ~ including the best way to fertilize them, & how to prevent them from wilting during the summer heat!
Happy Gardening!
xoxo Noelia
Read Next: Good Companion Plants for Hydrangeas
Great, Sadie! Keep me updated later this year as to how they’re doing… : ) xoxo