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Protecting stems of Hydrangia under winter cover

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Posted by juliefranc 3-4 (My Page) on
Sat, Aug 15, 09 at 17:34

The stems of my hydrangea suffered mold or fungus under its winter cover this year and died. Therefore I was lucky to have three blooms because it blooms on old wood. Since I did not cover it until November, it must have happened in the spring. So, I figure, take off the winter cover in March this year. Would that be a mistake? What else can I do to prevent this again? The cover I used was straw under a large styro-cone.

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RE: Protecting stems of Hydrangia under winter cover

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I would not take it off completely in march, you like me probably get some very cold nights in march. I would uncover it and get rid of the mulch but leave the cone on. Then on warm days in spring take the cone off and then put the cone on at night when the temperature dips.

I have lost more perennials to cold spring and fall weather with no cover than I ever did with our cold winters.

I use dry leaves to cover my plants and I pile them loosly. This traps air around the plants. I rake them up when they are dry and put them in 5 gallon pails and store in my shed until I want to use them. Any left over go in the compost

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RE: Protecting stems of Hydrangia under winter cover

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Dust it with a fungicide just before putting the cover on. I use the generic, dollar store version of Gold Bond medicated powder as a fungicide, since it's a mix of Zinc oxide and essential oils. Works great, and its cheap. Plus, the zinc is an essential plant nutrient which enriches the soil the next spring. That being said, I've still never had much success in getting hydrangea buds to overwinter even under cover. I think the real answer might be to get rid of the old type and replace with the cultivars in the Endless Summer line which bloom on new wood. I was really impressed with the one I put in last year, its bloomed much better than my old Nikko Blue types that usually winterkill. And, these new types don't matter if they die back to the ground since they bloom on the new wood. They now have a blue and a bicolor white/pink "peppermint" they call it.

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RE: Protecting stems of Hydrangia under winter cover

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I like what dennimi said about planting new varieties that flower on new wood. I've had very good luck with 'Annabelle' in my zone 4 location. I get several huge white flowers from my east facing plants. I simply cut back all foliage to about a foot off the ground at the end of the year and let the snow cover do the rest. In lieu of snow cover I would suggest straw or leaves, no cones.

Here is a link that might be useful: North Country Gardening

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RE: Protecting stems of Hydrangia under winter cover

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  • Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
    Wed, Sep 2, 09 at 14:33

I agree w/ neil76 - styro could be the culprit - not allowing to breathe. Try using the corrugated-board type.

Our rule of thumb for *coming out party* is Mom's Day, after all threats of late frost in Spring ... very hard to follow, when Ma Nature tease so!!!

A gradual removal of covers suggested by our nursery guys. I protect 12 marginally tender bloomers & use corrug-board rose-cone for Pia a dwarf beauty.

FWIW

Here is a link that might be useful: Protecting H divas

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