Proper hydrangea care in late summer and autumn is particularly important for the long-lasting bloomers. We explain what you should consider when cutting, fertilizing and mulching so that the trees get through the winter well and bloom extensively again next year.
Hydrangea care in late summer and autumn: This gardening work is pending
The days are getting shorter and the time has slowly come to prepare the permanent bloomers for the coming autumn. One thing is certain: Anyone who puts in the effort this year will be rewarded with a wonderful display of flowers next year.
Hydrangeas are among the most beautiful and popular ornamental shrubs in the home garden. But when it comes to the...proper care in late summerand autumn comes, then most hobby gardeners are overwhelmed. When is the right time?Fertilize hydrangea, cut and remove dead flowers?
In today's article we will try to summarize all the important care tips for the cold season so that you can successfully overwinter your garden and potted plants later in October and November.
When and how to cut hydrangeas?
Perhaps one of the most common mistakes people make when caring for hydrangeas is pruning them annually in the fall. Actually, such a radical pruning every year is not necessary; in some cases it can even have a negative effect on plant growth and flower formation. In fact, most types of hydrangeas get through the winter well without pruning.
A caring cut is necessary if the bush needs to be thinned out or if it has become too tall. In this case, however, a shape and taper cut is carried out. Cutting off all shoots at ground level can be used as a rescue measure (for example in the event of disease or a pest infestation).
Prune hydrangeas in cutting group 1 in late summer or spring
The favorable time can vary greatly from species to species. Basically, hydrangeas are divided into two cutting groups. The first group of cuts blooms on the old wood and the second - on the new wood. This means that the hydrangea from group 1 will form the flower buds for the next garden season in autumn. Pruning in September or October will remove these flower buds and the plant will not bloom the next year. These hydrangeas are also sensitive to frost and cannot recover in time from autumn pruning.
When is the right time for a cut? You can carry out a caring cut in late summer, around the end of August.Cut off any dead flowersand remove diseased or inwardly growing shoots. If you want to thin out the wood, wait until spring.
Cut the hydrangeas in cutting group 2 in autumn
In contrast to the first cutting group, the hydrangeas in cutting group 2 bloom on new wood. This means they can be cut in the fall. The plant is thinned out and diseased shoots are removed.
If you are not sure which cutting group your hydrangea belongs to, you can use the flowering time as a guide. Summer-flowering species are thinned out in late summer or early spring. The hydrangeas that bloom in late summer are cut after the end of the flowering period in the fall.
Also read:Which trees to prune in October? Maintain the right plants!
Remove dead flowers
No matter which pruning group your hydrangea belongs to: remove the dead flowers regularly. This caring measure promotes renewed flowering in summer and autumn. After the end of the flowering period, you should cut off all withered flowers. They are entry points for bacteria and fungi and make the plant more susceptible to infection. If you don't remove the withered flowers, you risk snow breakage in winter.
Hydrangeas fertilize in late summer and fall
Autumn is the right time to prepare the hydrangea for the coming winter months. Work organic compost into the root area to protect the roots from frost and to supply the tree with valuable nutrients.
From the end of August you can stop applying other fertilizers. Continuing to provide the plants with liquid fertilizer can encourage re-sprouting. Young shoots are particularly susceptible to frost damage.
Hydrangea care: A layer of mulch protects against frost
A layer of mulch can protect the hydrangea from frost. The thickness of the mulch layer can vary between 5 cm and 7 cm. The rule of thumb applies: the colder it gets in your region in winter, the more mulch you should apply. It is best to mix bark mulch with some horn shavings and place on top. The mulch layer protects the garden soil from drying out.
Care tips for the hydrangea in the pot
The hydrangea in a pot has special requirements in terms of location, soil and fertilizing/watering. There are also a few things you should keep in mind when caring for them in late summer and autumn.
- Fertilize correctly: The hydrangea in the pot is very sensitive. Use only special fertilizer for hydrangea. Stop fertilizing at the beginning of September.
- Watering: The hydrangea canNot tolerate lime. Only water them with rainwater or decalcified tap water.
- Cutting: Unlike garden hydrangeas, the potted plants are not cut. If necessary, you can remove diseased shoots in March.
- Remove spent flowers: Wait until the flower buds turn brown and dry out completely. Then cut these off.
- In autumn you can place the hydrangeas in a place close to the house, protected from the wind.
- The sun continues to shine strongly in autumn and winter, so the location should not be in full sun. Otherwise the sensitive leaves can burn.
