Are you trying to grow lush, vibrant hydrangeas in your garden but unsure of the next steps? Well, you’ve definitely come to the right place for help!
Since it’s February right now, we’ll be going over 5 essential hydrangea care tasks you need to tackle by the end of February.
But that’s not all; this article also includes tips for planning ahead and getting your hydrangeas prepared for springtime, so better keep reading!
5 Essential Hydrangea Care Tasks To Tackle During January and February
1. Trim Away Dead Or Broken Branches
First and foremost, it’s crucial that you prune your hydrangeas and trim them back to make them easier to manage. Hydrangea shrubs can grow very dense, and tangled branches can block sunlight and restrict air circulation.
You want your hydrangeas to have complete, undisturbed airflow as well as access to sunlight at all times of the day.
Try your best to trim down any dead foliage or weak stems between late January and earky February. Even if you’re very slow and careful with the pruning shears, it shouldn’t take longer than an hour, so just get it done any day of the week.
2. Protect Your Hydrangeas From Winter Damage
Although cold sensitivity depends on the climate and type of hydrangea, it’s a general consensus that hydrangeas don’t really respond well to severely low temperatures.
Frost is very likely to kill your plants, especially if they’re still relatively young and haven’t fully established yet.
Since the month of January is a cold one, you’ll need to protect your hydrangeas from winter damage using thick row covers or frost cloths. You can perhaps cover up the shrub during nighttime and remove the covers in the morning when the sunlight emerges.
3. Get Ready For Spring: Plan Ahead
If you’re in a region that experiences milder winters and the month of January isn’t that harsh, consider fertilizing your hydrangeas as it will allow them to store nutrients to get through the wintertime and fuel vigorous spring growth.
Because hydrangeas thrive in acidic conditions, you want to add organic materials like compost and peat moss to raise the acidity of the soil and get it optimized for supporting hydrangea growth.
Whether you’re growing your hydrangeas in the garden or a pot, having well-draining soil will allow you to limit potential waterlogging issues that could stunt growth and even kill your plant. If your soil is too tightly compacted, loosen it up using a garden fork and add some gravel to it to help with better drainage.
4. Check For Hidden Pests Or Problems
Another task you must tackle in January is carefully inspecting your hydrangeas for any hidden pests or problems.
Pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs are quite small and can hide behind foliage, destroying your hydrangea shrub slowly but thoroughly. Look for strange holes and patterns on leaves that could give you a clue about their activity.
Fungal infections and rot can also harm your hydrangea shrub. Once you’ve ruled out the possibility of pests damaging your plant, examine it for signs of fungal diseases, such as leaf discoloration or leggy growth in certain areas.
5. Keep An Eye On Soil Moisture
Soil moisture is also a very important factor when it comes to proper hydrangea care and maintenance. You want the soil at the base of your hydrangea shrub to remain moist at all times.
However, be careful not to overwater or flood the soil, as this can cause waterlogging issues and potentially promote the spread of fungal diseases.
It’s generally not the best idea to let your hydrangea shrub dry out for an extended period of time. These plants do not thrive in dryness. As a rule of thumb, water your hydrangeas whenever the top inch or two of the soil feels dry to the touch.
Conclusion
Whether you’re gardening professionally or as a relaxing hobby, each month brings a variety of tasks when there’s something growing in your garden.
That’s why I encourage folks to create a proper care routine and plan ahead for the next month or two, ensuring you’re never too late when your precious plants need you.
Thanks for the hydrangea tips I have 2 Limelight Hydrangea trees. And Thetly are both still full of dead blooms in the cold New Jersey weather. Can I still cut the dead blooms though its late in January?
Hi Carole!
Yes, you can still trim the dead blooms on your Limelight Hydrangeas in January. Just snip above a healthy bud to keep the plant ready for spring growth. Stay warm in New Jersey, and happy gardening! 🌸
How can I tell what kind of hydrangeas I have. One shows buds on the branch so I trim the tops off in January. The other show no buds and the tops I leave alone. I trimmed them one yearcand it didn’t bloom until the second year. Why?
Hi Jeff! It sounds like you have two different types of hydrangeas!
The one with buds on the branches is likely a variety that blooms on old wood (like bigleaf or oakleaf hydrangeas), so trimming in January might remove the buds and affect blooming. The second one might bloom on new wood (like panicle or smooth hydrangeas), which explains why it took a year to recover after trimming—it needed time to regrow.
To be sure, watch for where buds form: old wood bloomers form buds on last year’s growth, while new wood bloomers form buds on new spring growth. Knowing this will help you time your pruning for better blooms! 🌸🌿
Hi, Rita,
We’re having a suddenly cold and snowy winter here in Northern NJ. I’ve not pruned (cut off old blooms) of my Big Leaf hydrangea. Is it too late to cut them off and is it advisable to cover the plants now?
Hi Sandra!
With the cold and snow already settling in, it’s best to leave your bigleaf hydrangea as it is for now. The old blooms can actually help protect the buds from harsh winter weather. Covering the plants with burlap or a frost blanket is a great idea, especially if temperatures drop further. Just make sure to remove the cover in early spring to let the plant breathe. Stay warm and good luck with your hydrangea! 🌸❄️😊
Hi Rita, have you ever done an article about clematis? We’re new in our home and there are three clematis on the wall that faces West in the Spokane area. I believe they have been allowed to just grow indiscriminately and I would like to prune them. Any advice about that?
Thanks very much, Nanzy
Hi Nanzy, thanks for reaching out!
Yes, I actually have an article all about pruning clematis: How to Prune Clematis for Gorgeous Blooms. It walks you through identifying which type of clematis you have (important for knowing how to prune it) and offers step-by-step advice. Let me know if you need more help! 🌸😊
Have 3 decorative red leaf maples I need to know how and when to properly prune them to maintain their canopies.
Hi Jackie! Red leaf maples should be pruned in late winter to early spring, while they’re still dormant but before new growth starts. Avoid heavy pruning in summer, as it can stress the tree.
To maintain the canopy:
1. Remove dead or crossing branches to improve airflow.
2. Thin out crowded areas by cutting small interior branches at their base.
3. Shape lightly by trimming long branches just above a bud or side branch.
Always use sharp, clean pruners and avoid removing more than 25% of the canopy at once to keep your maples healthy and thriving! 😊🌳
Hi Rita, I moved into a condo and became the flower gardener. There’s a buge hydrangea on the NE side of the building, i.e. mostly shaded, about 9′ tall. It usually has huge cone-shaped flowers that start white, turn green, then pink, and finally brown. It hasn’t produced as many flowers and not as large the past two years when we’ve had dry, cold winters, and I have no idea how to care for it. Wondering if it can be cut back so it’s not as leggy, but it’s more of a tree than a shrub at this point, so I worry that cutting it way back will kill it. Any suggestions?
Hi Cynthia!
It sounds like you have a panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), which is a hardy variety that responds well to pruning 🌿 Since it’s getting tall and leggy, you can cut it back, but timing is key. For the best blooms:
– Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
– Since it blooms on new wood, cutting it back won’t harm it, but don’t go too extreme! Trim it down by ⅓ of its height to encourage stronger branches and larger blooms.
– If it’s struggling due to dry winters, adding a layer of mulch in fall can help protect the roots.
Hope this helps Let me know if you need more details 😊🌸✨
Hi I do get the disease spots on my leaves how best to treat please?
Hi Marlene! Hydrangeas can get fungal leaf spots, especially in humid conditions.
To treat them, remove any affected leaves, improve air circulation around the plant, and avoid overhead watering. A copper-based fungicide or neem oil spray can help stop the spread. Also, cleaning up fallen leaves in winter can reduce disease next season.
Let me know if you need more tips! 😊🌿
I live on the coast in Alabama.
We have had an unexpected winter this year. I have two limelight hydrangeas in pots.
They look dead ??? We have kept them watered and out of the elements. I’m not the Gardner but would like to learn more about how to care for them on the coast.
Hi Wanda! Limelight hydrangeas are hardy, but unexpected cold can make them look dead when they’re really just dormant. Since they’re in pots, they’re more vulnerable to temperature swings, but if the roots stayed protected, they should bounce back in spring!
For now, scratch a small section of the stem with your fingernail, if it’s green underneath, it’s still alive. Keep them watered lightly, avoid fertilizing until new growth appears, and wait until spring before pruning. If you need more care tips, I’d be happy to help! 😊🌿
Thanks for detailed information regarding plant care!
Hi Jo! You’re very welcome! 😊🌿
I’m so glad you found it helpful. Happy gardening! ✨💙
How do you take care of bobo hydrangeas? We planted 3 last year in memory of our daughter. We live in se Missouri.
Hi Sue! That’s a beautiful way to honor your daughter 💜
Bobo hydrangeas are hardy and fairly easy to care for! Since you’re in southeast Missouri, here’s how to keep them thriving:
🌞 They do best in full sun to partial shade, especially with afternoon shade in hot summers.
💧 Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, especially in dry spells
✂️ Since Bobos bloom on new wood, prune them in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. You can cut them back by ⅓ to shape them and encourage strong blooms
🌱 Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth
Wishing your hydrangeas a beautiful bloom this year! Let me know if you need more tips 💜🌸
I have a pot of hydrangeas I watered the blooms have died and I cut them off and the leaves have turned dry and curled help !!!!
Hi Carol! It sounds like your hydrangea is struggling with stress, possibly from underwatering, overwatering, or too much sun. 🌿 Try these steps to help it recover:
Check the soil – If it’s too dry, give it a deep soak and keep it consistently moist (but not soggy). If it’s too wet, let it dry out slightly before watering again.
Adjust its location – If it’s in full sun, move it to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch.
Trim dead leaves – This will help the plant focus on new growth.
Give it a boost – A weak dose of balanced fertilizer can help it bounce back.
Hopefully, with a little care, your hydrangea will start perking up! Let me know if you need more help! 😊🌸
I love the simple way you present the information. I am a new Gardner in the South and it was easy to follow your instructions with my hydrangeas. Thank you sincerely, Barbara
Hi Barbara! That’s so wonderful to hear! 😊🌿
I’m so glad the information was easy to follow and helpful for your hydrangeas. Wishing you lots of beautiful blooms. Happy gardening! 💙🌸✨
Good Morning Rita,
I live in St. Louis Missouri and have a hydrangea bush in our front berm which we have had for 15+ years. It started out providing a lot of nice blooms throughout the spring – fall. Over the past couple years it’s just a BIG green leaved bush and we start getting some blooms in late fall only, and only a small amount. What would you recommend for us and how far back should we be pruning? I have went from nothing, 1/3, to just leaving 12 inches. Also, the base continues to get broader, so do you think it may be beneficial to do some root pruning?
Good morning Craig! 😊 It sounds like you have a bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), which blooms on old wood. Here are a few things to consider:
✂️ Prune only after blooming in summer—cutting too early removes next year’s flowers.
☀️ Ensure at least 4-6 hours of sunlight for better blooms.
🌱 Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer (like bone meal) in spring to encourage flowering.
🌿 Light root pruning in early spring can help if the base is spreading too much.
Hope this brings back those beautiful blooms! 😊🌸✨