AT A GLANCE
Fleece is the ideal protection against the cold for hydrangeas. However, it is not always necessary, as under certain circumstances it encourages the hydrangeas to sprout further in winter, making them more sensitive to cold. For this reason, fleece should only be placed over the hydrangeas at night as needed and removed again on frost-free days. A cheap alternative to fleece is to use old clothing or other textiles.
Why should you cover hydrangeas with fleece?
Fleece serves hydrangeas as cold protection. Plants are relative hardy, but you should also protect them from severe night frosts in particular, so as not to risk frost damage to the freshly sprouted buds. Young plants in particular are still somewhat sensitive to frost, so winter protection should not be dispensed with here so that the bushes do not freeze to death.
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When should you protect hydrangeas from the cold with fleece?
From the first frost should be thought about a cold protection of the hydrangeas. Whether a cover is necessary depends in particular on whether and to what extent new buds have already sprout. If the last few weeks were mild, the buds could already be more developed and correspondingly sensitive. On the other hand, if they are still tightly closed, the cold doesn't bother them as much.
If you plant your hydrangeas in a place that is protected from rain and wind, for example near a house wall hibernate, frost protection is only required in the event of extreme night frost. During the day you should remove the protection if possible, as the hydrangeas will continue to sprout when it is warm enough under their fleece coat. The further the flowers are driven out, the more sensitive they are to frost. So this rule of thumb is: In winter it must not be too warm for the hydrangeas, otherwise they will sprout too early, nor too cold, otherwise they could suffer frost damage.
How do I cover my hydrangeas with fleece?
Fleece is particularly suitable for covering the hydrangeas because it is very light. Nevertheless, you should make sure that you do not break off any branches or flowers of the shrub when attaching it. To be sure, you can have a few plant sticks around the hydrangea in the ground, which absorb the weight of the fleece. Otherwise, you can simply fleece the fleece lay over the hydrangea and below for example weigh down with stones, so that it cannot be carried away by the wind.
When packing, make sure that there are no open spaces. The plant is optimally protected from the wind and the air temperature around the plant remains constant.
When should the fleece be removed?
during the winter you should use the fleece during the day decrease when temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius. This measure is important to prevent the hydrangeas from sprout too early, especially when the sun is shining or if you are using dark fleece. After last frost you can free the hydrangeas from their winter coat.
Tip
Winter protection alternatives to fleece
Instead of buying expensive fleece at the garden center, you can cover your hydrangeas with an old bed sheet or t-shirt. However, be aware that jersey and other fabrics are heavier than fleece and soak up moisture more quickly, giving them extra weight. If this is the case, be sure to use planting stakes to attach the fabric to so your hydrangeas don't collapse under the weight of the cover.
