I purchased this hydrangea tree in Minnesota this summer and am wondering what the best way to winterize it is. Currently I have tree tape on it as well as protection from critters. I am wondering if I need to burlap and mulch it as I did my rose tree or if what I have done is sufficient. I live in northern Iowa zone 4. According to a local florist, I don't need to do anything more though I am not so sure.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
[img]https://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad36/jaclay4749/hydrangeatree.jpg[/img]
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luis_pr
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 824
- Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:31 am
- Location: Hurst, TX USA Zone 7b/8a
Looks nice, janette! Most of the tree (standard) hydrangeas that are for sale out there belong to the Paniculata Variety. These are very winter-hardy hydrangeas that only need about 3-4" of mulch for winter protection. Do not be surprised by some dieback in your [u]first[/u] winter though. Nothing big mind you; it just seems to happen some times. You may also need to stalk it if the area is windy and if there is a chance that it may tilt or fall due to winds.
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MysticGardener67
- Senior Member
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:31 am
- Location: Lexington KY
Wonderful plant! Shouldn't be hard to take care of. Bear in mind I am in zone 6, so our winters aren't as cold as long. The Tree forms ( called 'standards') that I have sold in the past actually ARE grafted at top of trunk, like a tree rose BUT unlike a tree rose, those grafts aren't as cold sensitive.
That being said , gardeners in my area don't so anything to prep them for winter. However ( I am a big fan of howevers and buts), I have spent time in the plains states in the winter , mostly Oklahoma, and I do know that the winds , along with the cold, will be this little shrub's worst enemy untill it has had a couple of years to become well established and acclimated. I would be rather nervous until then.
what you will need to do is give it a better support than that bamboo stake it came with. I would remove the bamboo one and replace it with a nice sturdy tomato stake or even a length of pipe. Anything you have that will give support until the trunk is strong enough to support itself.
I would remove the flowerheads. Right now they are just going to load with snow and ice and stress the trunk
I would also erect a 4 sided windscreenusing 4ft 1x1 stakes (furring strips)and any sort of cloth , burlap, leftover weed control fabric, even plastic sheeting. Drive the 1x1's about a foot into the ground ( hope it isn't solid frozen yet) and then staple the cloth to the stakes. I had a really nice drawing, but the hosting site is being stupid.
[img]https://www.magix-photos.com/permamedia?exportclassid=3CC366F0F67C11DE9A1C70274CB182D0[/img]
Well host is still stupid, but click that link.
Umm you may also want to go ahead and do a light cutting back. no more than 3 or 4 buds back on each branch. Tardiva bloom on new wood, in summer, so best to prune either now or early spring ( march)
Um I am not a big fan of tree tape. Has been my experience that it may cause more harm than good. IF you a re worried about critters eating the tender bark, cylinder of 1/4 inch hardware cloth around the trunk ( attatched to the new support) will do wonders, keep most rodents out.
Never hurts to mulch. keep mulch 2 inches or so away from the bark. nice deep 3-4 inch layer extending 4 inches or so past the rootbal. This puts thickest part of mulch right where it needs to be, over the root ends
That being said , gardeners in my area don't so anything to prep them for winter. However ( I am a big fan of howevers and buts), I have spent time in the plains states in the winter , mostly Oklahoma, and I do know that the winds , along with the cold, will be this little shrub's worst enemy untill it has had a couple of years to become well established and acclimated. I would be rather nervous until then.
what you will need to do is give it a better support than that bamboo stake it came with. I would remove the bamboo one and replace it with a nice sturdy tomato stake or even a length of pipe. Anything you have that will give support until the trunk is strong enough to support itself.
I would remove the flowerheads. Right now they are just going to load with snow and ice and stress the trunk
I would also erect a 4 sided windscreenusing 4ft 1x1 stakes (furring strips)and any sort of cloth , burlap, leftover weed control fabric, even plastic sheeting. Drive the 1x1's about a foot into the ground ( hope it isn't solid frozen yet) and then staple the cloth to the stakes. I had a really nice drawing, but the hosting site is being stupid.
[img]https://www.magix-photos.com/permamedia?exportclassid=3CC366F0F67C11DE9A1C70274CB182D0[/img]
Well host is still stupid, but click that link.
Umm you may also want to go ahead and do a light cutting back. no more than 3 or 4 buds back on each branch. Tardiva bloom on new wood, in summer, so best to prune either now or early spring ( march)
Um I am not a big fan of tree tape. Has been my experience that it may cause more harm than good. IF you a re worried about critters eating the tender bark, cylinder of 1/4 inch hardware cloth around the trunk ( attatched to the new support) will do wonders, keep most rodents out.
Never hurts to mulch. keep mulch 2 inches or so away from the bark. nice deep 3-4 inch layer extending 4 inches or so past the rootbal. This puts thickest part of mulch right where it needs to be, over the root ends