Protecting Hydrangeas for Winter

The cool weather is here so let’s make sure our hydrangeas are ready for winter! Here are some simple guidelines to help keep your hydrangeas healthy for next summer.

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Summer Blooming Shrubs Affected By Late Spring Freeze 

Did you wonder why your beautiful summer blooming shrubs did not perform as well this year?

Many of you asked why your typically prolific summer blooming shrubs like Mophead Hydrangeas, Vitex and Butterfly Bushes had died back so heavily this summer. The reason this occurred was due to warm temperatures in the spring followed by a cold snap. The temperature dropped below five degrees for two days and the plants had not fully acclimated. These plants are typically well adapted to the lows of our hardiness zone but the temperature dropped below that zone. The good news is the ground did not freeze so most of those shrubs survived. When cut back to the new growth they flowered.

The shrubs most affected by the freeze that our commonly used in Vineyard landscapes: