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Hydrangea/magnolia care in winter

CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
in Problem solving
We have four hydrangeas in different parts of a largeish garden, two young ones at the bottom of a long slope, in what is probably a frost pocket, and the other two higher up the slope, one higher than the other (the oldest about 10 years old).  Of the two in the frost pocket, one had no flowers at all this year, though the leaves were healthy, and the other one only had a few.  Higher up the garden, there were more flowers but still not as many as I expected. I only pruned the oldest of the upper plants in the spring, the others I just left.

Given that last winter was fairly mild, I'm a bit puzzled as to why the hydrangeas didn't perform well though we did have a frost snap after the magnolia buds began to open, which damaged them so its flowers were spoilt by being brownish, and am wondering if I should protect them all with fleece this winter?  If so, when?
Thanks.

Posts

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Are they Hydrangea macrophylla varieties?  They flower on the previous year's wood, so shpuldn't be pruned in the spring (except to remove the previous year's dead flowers).  Hydrangea paniculata, which has cone-shaped flower heads, flowers on new growth and therefore can be cut hard back in spring.  Late frosts can damage the flower buds on macrophylla types, which might be the problem if you have a frost pocket, so you could throw some fleece over if there's frost forecast in April or May.  If there's too much nitrogen in the soil this can also inhibit flowering.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
    Thanks, yes, they are macrophylla but I only pruned out the dead wood of the old shrub, keeping all the buds.  The young ones received no pruning at all.  I'm not sure when is the best time to use fleece though- just before a forecast frost or all winter?
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Lightweight fleece can tear when it's very windy, so you might need to watch out for that - but you can buy different weights.  I guess it might be possible to tie it on... it wouldn't look beautiful, so whether you leave it on all winter or just put it on before a forecast frost in spring, would be up to you.  I think the problem might come when a warm spell in early spring, which has initiated growth and encouraged buds to swell, is followed by a cold snap.  

    I'm assuming you don't apply a lot of high-nitrogen fertiliser.  That's the only other reason I can find on the Web for lack of flowers, unless your small plants are young and recently planted - they can take a while to settle down in my experience.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
    Thanks for your suggestions.  I don't use a lot of fertiliser so I think I may have just had a bit of bad luck last year as the youngest shrubs are 2 years old so not so young.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I don't know where you are geographically, but this year we had extreme drought and heat where I am and the hydrangeas struggled to survive. They hardly attempted a flower and even now, are showing stress.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree with @Posy. If they suffered in drier conditions last year, they would have struggled to produce flowers, even if they had buds. It isn't always obvious when buds don't mature into flowers, but dry conditions are often a bridge too far for a shrub, especially a very young one, to make that final step, and the plant preserves itself rather than use energy to open the flowers. 2 years old is a very young shrub  :)
      
    Magnolias and hydrangeas need no protection through winter. I'm afraid if there's frost when buds are about to open , it's just one of those things. If you want to fleece when a late frost is forecast, it's down to choice, but bear in mind that it becomes impossible when shrubs get big. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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