You Need to Cover Your Hydrangeas in the Winter!

Hydrangeas are a showstopper in the garden, but come winter, they need some TLC to make sure they bounce back with those big, beautiful blooms the next year.

Winter can be brutal, especially if you live in a colder region of the U.S. But don’t worry! Winterizing your hydrangeas isn’t hard, and with the right steps, you can ensure your plants survive the cold and come back even stronger.

Here’s everything you need to know about why, how, and when to cover your hydrangeas, along with other tips to keep them thriving through winter.

Why Do Hydrangeas Need Protection in the Winter?

Hydrangeas, particularly the bigleaf and mountain varieties, tend to form their flower buds for the next growing season during late summer and early fall.

These buds are susceptible to cold damage, especially during unexpected freezes or sustained low temperatures.

If the buds freeze, you’ll end up with green, leafy hydrangeas come spring—but no flowers.

That’s why covering your hydrangeas is key: you’re essentially insulating those buds so they don’t get frostbitten and can bloom beautifully in the spring.

How and When to Cover Your Hydrangeas

Timing is everything when it comes to protecting your hydrangeas for winter. You’ll want to cover them after the first hard frost—when temperatures drop to around 28°F or lower—since a frost helps the plant enter dormancy. Once the plant is dormant, it’s safe to cover.

Here’s how to properly cover your hydrangeas:

1 – Start with Mulch

Begin by applying a thick layer of mulch (around 6 to 8 inches) around the base of the plant.

Mulch acts as an insulator for the roots, helping to keep the soil temperature more stable throughout the winter months.

Use materials like shredded bark, straw, or even pine needles for this layer of protection.

2 – Add a Burlap Wrap

Burlap is one of the best materials for covering hydrangeas because it’s breathable, allowing air to flow through while still providing warmth.

To cover your hydrangea, loosely wrap burlap around the entire plant and secure it with garden twine.

If you’re dealing with very low temperatures, you can also fill the burlap wrap with dried leaves for added insulation.

3 – Use a Wire Cage for Extra Protection

In colder areas or during extreme winters, you can build a wire cage around the hydrangea.

Place a wire mesh or chicken wire around the plant, leaving enough space between the plant and the wire to add some insulation material, like straw or more dried leaves.

Once the cage is filled, you can cover it with burlap or an old bedsheet to seal in the warmth.

4 – Avoid Plastic

While it may seem like plastic is an easy solution, resist the urge to wrap your hydrangeas in it. Plastic traps moisture and creates a greenhouse effect when the sun is out, which can lead to mold or rot. Stick to breathable materials like burlap or frost cloth.

5 – Consider Frost Covers

Now, if you want to make life even easier, I’ve found a fantastic product that’s been a game-changer for my garden — the Agfabric Frost Blanket.

I bought it on Amazon, and it’s hands down the best frost cover I’ve used so far. Not only do I cover my hydrangeas with it, but I also throw it over my vegetable beds, and it works wonders.

This frost blanket is a breeze to set up, and it’s tough enough to protect against snow, frost, and those icy, low temperatures that sneak up on us.

What I love about it is how simple it makes the whole winterizing process. Instead of struggling with layers of burlap and cages, you just drape it over the plants, and it keeps everything snug.

If you’re looking for a quick fix for your winter garden prep, I highly recommend giving it a shot! You can grab it here on Amazon.

Tips to Keep Your Hydrangeas Thriving in Winter

Now that you know how to cover your hydrangeas, here are a few extra tips to help them survive winter and come back even better next season.

1 – Water Before the Ground Freezes

Hydrangeas need moisture in their roots to stay hydrated throughout winter. Make sure to water your plants well in the fall, especially before the ground freezes.

This ensures they don’t dry out over the winter. But once the ground is frozen, you can ease up on the watering, as hydrangeas won’t need as much.

2 – Don’t Prune Too Late

Pruning hydrangeas at the wrong time is one of the most common mistakes gardeners make. Prune them right after they bloom in summer, not in the fall.

Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood (like bigleaf varieties) will already have set their flower buds for the next year by fall. Cutting them back too late can remove the buds, resulting in no blooms next season.

You can learn more here: How to Prune Hydrangeas? The Plant Will Explode With Flowers

3 – Use Snow as a Natural Blanket

Believe it or not, snow can act as an insulator for your hydrangeas, trapping heat and protecting them from wind and ice.

If you live in an area that gets regular snow, you can even pile some around the base of the plant for extra protection. Just be careful not to let the snow become too heavy on top of the plant, as this could cause branches to break.

4 – Watch Out for Winter Winds

Wind can be just as damaging as cold temperatures, drying out your hydrangea and damaging its delicate buds.

If your hydrangeas are planted in a windy spot, consider setting up a windbreak, such as a wooden fence panel or even a sheet of burlap secured to stakes. This will help reduce wind exposure without smothering the plant.

5 – Leave Leaves Alone

If your hydrangea drops its leaves in the fall, let them be! Those fallen leaves create a natural layer of insulation around the base of the plant.

Come spring, you can clear away the dead leaves to allow for new growth, but during the winter, they’re doing your hydrangea a favor by providing an extra barrier against the cold.

When to Uncover Your Hydrangeas

Spring is always a bit of a guessing game when it comes to weather. Once the threat of frost has passed—typically around mid to late spring—you can start gradually uncovering your hydrangeas.

If you uncover them too early and another frost hits, you risk damaging those tender flower buds. So, be patient and wait until the weather is consistently above freezing.

Once uncovered, give your hydrangeas a gentle prune to remove any dead or damaged stems and fertilize them with a slow-release fertilizer to give them a good start for the season.

Covering your hydrangeas in the winter is a crucial step in ensuring they stay healthy and bloom beautifully year after year.

With a little mulch, some burlap, and a bit of patience, you’ll have thriving hydrangeas that can handle whatever winter throws their way. So don’t let the cold weather catch your hydrangeas off guard—give them the protection they deserve!