Boy Caught in Snowstorm We have had a few nights where the temps have dropped in to the high 30s, a stark reminder that it’s time to prepare to wrap some of my bigleaf (macrophyllas) and mountain (serratas) hydrangeas for winter. Those that aren't planted in protected locations as I described in my other blog posts,  https://bit.ly/2lRGNlm  and  https://bit.ly/2A8tzZE  need a little help if I want to give them their best chance of having their buds make it through the coming winter to see flowers in 2020.  Exactly what does this mean right now? SHRUB COVERS : something to safely protect the plants from ice and snow, maybe even give them a few degrees of insulation.

I woke up to 37 degrees F this morning, a stark reminder that I need to prepare to wrap some of my bigleaf hydrangeas (macrophyllas) for winter. Those that aren't planted in protected locations as I described in my earlier blog posts, https://bit.ly/2lRGNlm and https://bit.ly/2A8tzZE need a little help if I want to give them their best chance of having their buds make it through the coming winter to see flowers in 2019.   Exactly what does this mean right now? SHRUBCOVERS : something I can use to safely protect the plants from ice and snow, maybe even give them a few degrees of insulation.

It's time to start preparing your hydrangeas for winter. With autumn's official start right around the corner on September 22, it' a good time to start to get your plants ready for winter while the weather is still pleasant and mild.

If you're wondering when to transplant your bigleaf hydrangea ( macrophylla ), now is it. It's one of the questions that often comes up during my lectures and talks as audiences realize they need to move their plants. Why would you want to move your plant? Here are a couple of reasons: it has grown too big for its space and you always find yourself needing to cut it back which often results in fewer flowers. You either cut it at the wrong time or you damage it when you cut it. Or you realize that it is too exposed to winter weather and always dies back to the ground like the one in this photo and maybe that wouldn't happen if it was in a different place. Or you never get around to it in time or whatever. Why move it now?  Late August/early September is a good time to make this move to give the plant time to establish roots before it goes completely dormant or winter comes and the ground freezes. Secondly, you can monitor it while it still has foliage which c...