Michigan Hydrangea Winter Protection
A S
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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luis_pr
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoA S
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Preparing roses for winter in West Michigan
Comments (2)I am not a great rose gardener, but mine do survive our winters. The out-of-zone rose will be questionable, particularly if we have severe freezing this winter. Last year was only bad in Dec. To prepare I let any flowering go to build rose hips. I don't cut off these last flowers blooming now. Setting hips tells the plant to prepare for winter. I make sure the bush is mulched under the stems. When planted, the bush should have had the graft knob buried under dirt to protect from frost. If you have self rooted roses, then the knob is nothing you need consider. I try to keep any dropping rose leaves picked up weekly to prevent any foliage overwintering with disease, near the bush for next year infections. After a couple hard frosts, I will put a rose collar around bush for wind protection if I think it is needed in that location. After ground freeze I fill collars with sawdust. I have it for horse bedding so there is plenty for me. Wood shavings in bags used for animal bedding work, also shredded leaves from oaks that stay stiff. You can add a couple mothballs as an aid to repel varmints.Freezing weather will quickly freeze the filler material. Waiting for frozen ground prevents varmints, voles, mice, from taking up residence in the collar amidst the fluffy shavings. They would nibble the stems all winter, leaving you with stubs by spring. Rose Collars are a hard plastic piece, flexible sheet roll, that will snap around bush. Open top allows easy filling with choice of materials. However I do plan on stem die off above the collar in my windy location. I like that graft area stems are protected, willing to sprout next spring again. You are further west, may have better snow cover than I do. We usually have some bare ground times, very drying to plants. Rose cones are also available, but can be hard to put on large bushes. Bushes can overheat in sunny weather since cones accept light and create heat inside. Will often overheat even with making holes in cones, blow off in the wind, break. I haven't been happy with them, too many problems. Collars are more adaptable to all the size bushes I have. Last quite awhile. You do have to search a bit to find them. Call and ask at nurseries. Usually sold inexpensively in package of 3's, but sell out early. Perhaps an online location would be easier. Check under rose collar. I use them to wind-protect other bushes or delicate things during winter. Good luck with your new bushes....See MoreZone 6 Hydrangea winter protecting?
Comments (9)If this plant is hardy on zone 6 then all you need to do is to keep it well mulched (about 3-4" thru the drip line). If the plant is not hardy to zone 6 then check the information on the link below. The two approaches discussed in the link are: 1) cover the shrub with chicken wire and fill it up with leaves (really pack them in as they serve as insulators); 2) place a cardboard on top of the shrubs and press downwards slowly (the stems will bend) so the stems lie almost flat (hold the cardboard with rocks and add leaves on top). Blooms develop near the tips so it is important to protect the stem tips with lots of leaves. When doing the chicken wire thing, allow for several inches between the end of the stems and the sides/top of the chicken wire cage. The more separation, the more protection but pack those leaves good in there. Also, keep a reserve of unused leaves in a plastic trash bag as leaves sometimes settle and you may need to add more in mid winter (use mulch if you run out). Luis Here is a link that might be useful: Overwintering hydrangeas...See Moredo my hydrangeas need winter protection in metro boston?
Comments (1)Hello dkgarber! =) I'm very new to Hydrangeas this year, too. I have some "Forever and Evers", and have been reading up on them a lot. From all that I have read, F&E Hydrangeas do well in the northern parts of the U.S., where other Hydrangeas don't do so well. You should have good luck with them, but I would recommend addign extra mulch, just as an extra step....See MoreWacky Michigan Weather impacting my hydrangeas
Comments (10)Well, I would put winter protection around the already planted shrubs and postpone planting the Gatsbys until Spring. This El Nino is expected to cause a mess with moisture and temperature everywhere. I saw where your winter temps may be warmer than avge at times and this can break dormancy. Since we cannot put an air conditioner unit blowing cold air at the hydrangeas planted outside, maybe winter protection will make the temperature ups and downs less drastic and... just maybe... they will not awaken or hopefully they will go to sleep back quickly if/when awakened. Maybe that way, winter's slumber this year will feel like trying to sleep with someone snoring nearby. ;o) Due to the forecast of higher than normal temps, I would hesitate planting the potted Gatsbys. I would expect them having the same issues.Not being used to your climate yet, that may kill the stems, the flower buds and maybe even damage the small roots. So I would play it safe and keep them in the garage instead. I have two shrubs awaiting to be planted already myself but, since I expect lots of issues with El Nino here too, I decided to keep them potted and will plant them in the Spring. You could wait to winter protect until the leaves are zapped by cold or flat out protect them now regardless. Depends on when the next cold snap is scheduled and if you have the time or desire to wait for it....See Moreluis_pr
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMary G (SE Mich zone 5)
8 years agoruth_mi
8 years agoluis_pr
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoA S
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
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