Should i cover hydrangeas

Frost cloth and thicker fabric provide better insulation to keep the heat trapped around the plant. The cloth should be large enough to completely cover the sides and leave an extra 6 to 12 inches extending on the ground. Place rocks or bricks on the bottom of the cloth to hold it in place. Lay these on the excess length of fabric, using as many weights as needed to prevent air from flowing into or out of the cover. If you worry that the fabric might still come loose, you can loop wire through the fabric, wrap it around the stake, push it back out through the fabric and twist the ends to secure.

Remove the cover the following day when the temperature reaches at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Replace the cover each evening if another frost is expected. Related Articles. Late frosts can occur unexpectedly even after several weeks of warm weather. It is critical that you monitor the weather reports daily so you can take fast action to prevent frost injury to the hydrangeas.

Hydrangeas range in size depending on the species and age. In the event of a freeze or if you are growing your hydrangea in colder climates, the plant must be protected to survive. Hydrangeas form their flower and leaf buds in fall, so freezing temperatures can kill off the buds before they have a chance to flower. This eventually leads to not enough leaves growing in to support the plant and it dies. Protecting the hydrangea during winter helps to ensure the plant is able to bloom each year.

Place a 4-inch layer of straw mulch on the ground around the base of the hydrangea in fall before the ground has begun to freeze.

Mulching maintains soil temperature throughout winter, protecting the roots of the hydrangea. Cut a length of concrete reinforcing mesh that is long enough to completely surround the hydrangea. Warp the mesh around the plant and secure the ends of the mesh together with wire to form a cylinder.

Covering hydrangeas for winter is as simple as placing a blanket over larger plants, or setting a box over smaller plants when temperatures near freezing are expected. Remove the covering as soon as the temperatures begin to warm during the daytime, otherwise the plants may overheat under their covering.

Hot summer weather can scorch hydrangeas' foliage and flowers, weakening the plants or killing their leaves. A temporary sunshade or sun cloth during the hottest part of the year provides protection from intense afternoon sunlight.

Install two stakes slightly taller than the plants, and stretch a light-colored sheet between them. Place the sunshade on the side of the plants where they receive the most intense afternoon sunlight, but arrange the sunshade so it doesn't block morning sunlight. The sunshade is necessary only during hot, dry weather and doesn't have to remain in the garden for the entire summer. Hydrangeas don't require a sunshade when grown in an area that receives light afternoon shade.

Harsh drying winds, both in summer and winter, stress hydrangea plants.