Q.HELP WITH HYDRANGEAS
What is wrong with leaves that have burnt edges? Should I cut them off plant? Plants just wilted from first freeze. What should I do to prepare them now for winter? Is there any hope to salvage these???
Fort Mill, SC, recently experienced its first frost on October 31, 2024, with temperatures dipping to 31°F, which is just below freezing. Prior to a frost, you can water deeply the night before and also ensure you have 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch past the drip line. You can let the leaves fall on their own. For varieties that bloom on old wood and thus now have flower buds at the stem endings, this may be enough in mild winters. If your variety is not bloom reliable or if temperatures wildly fluctuate and crash well below freezing, consider winter protection. You can search YouTube for “hydrangea winter protection” to see videos of various methods.
Big Leaf Hydrangeas will break dormancy in two separate stages. Brand new spring 2025 stems will first break dormancy and grow from the base/crown of stems. Leafless stems will then break dormancy about 1-2 months later, leaf out and bloom. Thus, aim not to prune all the way down any 2024 leafless stems that remain leafless until the end of May or later.
For a La Niña Winter, expect drier and warmer conditions. If the soil is dry at a depth of 4”, water deeply. Maintain 3-5” of organic mulch at all times of the year.
