Avoid These Three Common Mistakes Gardeners Make When Caring For Hydrangeas In The Fall To Ensure Better Blooms In Your Garden Next Year
Who doesn’t love hydrangeas’ lush blooms and variety of colors? For many flower lovers, they are the centerpiece of the garden.
But, once fall rolls around, even seasoned gardeners can make some hasty mistakes when it comes to hydrangea care.
Thankfully, we’ve got you covered. Here are three of the most common fall hydrangea care pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Pruning Summer-Blooming Hydrangeas In Autumn
Cutting back hydrangeas in the fall seems like a logical step, right? Not so fast! Pruning your summer-blooming hydrangeas in autumn will actually snip away next year’s flowers.
These hydrangeas set their blooms on old wood, meaning the buds for next season have already formed by fall. So, to keep your blooms bountiful, wait until late winter or early spring to prune them.
Instead of hacking away, take a chill pill and just let your hydrangeas be. This is one of those times when doing less actually means more—more blooms next season, that is.
Mistake 2: Not Deadheading Hydrangeas
Another common mistake is failing to remove spent blooms, also known as deadheading.
Marina April – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Let’s get real: those wilted blooms aren’t doing your garden any aesthetic favors. Plus, they can make the plant waste precious energy that could be better used elsewhere.
So, be sure to deadhead– or snip off the faded blooms just below the flower head. This simple act helps redirect energy to healthier parts of the plant.
Mistake 3: Fertilizing In The Fall
While we’re all for plant nutrition, fertilizing hydrangeas in the fall is a bit like having an espresso right before bed—bad timing.
Fertilizing now will only encourage new growth that won’t have enough time to harden before winter, making your hydrangeas vulnerable to cold damage.
Instead, save the feeding frenzy for springtime when the plant can truly benefit from it. And if you’re worried about nutrients, do a soil test to determine what your garden really needs come spring.
What To Do Now: Mulching And Watering
Now that we’ve tackled what not to do, let’s talk about some to-do’s.
Mulching your hydrangeas before winter can offer protection from frost and keep the soil moist.
As for watering, just keep the soil consistently damp but not waterlogged. Giving your plants a good soak before the first frost can make a world of difference in their winter well-being.
Taking care of hydrangeas in the fall is mostly about restraint and a little bit of proactive love. Skip the fall pruning, deadhead those spent blooms, and hold off on the fertilizer.
With just a bit of effort and some well-timed care, your hydrangeas will thank you by lighting up your garden next year.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Gardening