Winter prep is officially underway here in our Upstate New York Zone 5B/6A garden, and when the temperatures drop and the wet, heavy snow is on its way, it is time to protect some of the plants we really do not want to lose.
In today’s garden, we are focusing on three big winter garden jobs: protecting bigleaf hydrangeas, pruning roses for snow, and putting away our hoses for winter. These simple late fall and early winter tasks can make a big difference when spring arrives.
One of the most important things on our winter garden checklist is protecting our bigleaf hydrangeas. Here in Upstate New York, late frosts and winter wind can damage flower buds, especially on hydrangeas that bloom on old wood.
We are covering varieties like Let’s Dance Sky View, Let’s Dance Lovable, Wee Bit Innocent, Light-O-Day, and Tough Stuff Top Fun to help protect those buds through winter. Our hope is that by giving them a little extra shelter, we will get a stronger early flush of blooms next season.
For some of these hydrangeas, winter protection is more of an experiment. For others, it is the difference between blooms and no blooms at all.
The challenge with growing bigleaf hydrangeas in Zone 5B and Zone 6A is not just the cold. It is the constant freeze-thaw cycle and those warm spring days that wake buds up too early before a late frost moves in.
That is why we wait until the plants are fully dormant before covering them. If you cover hydrangeas too early in fall, you can actually encourage growth when the plant should be going to sleep for winter.
Using breathable materials that allow light and moisture through is key. We never want to wrap these shrubs in plastic for the season. Instead, we use plant protectors, frost cloth, garden quilts, and simple DIY structures to help shield them from frost, wind, and heavy snow.
Another important winter garden task is cutting back roses just enough to keep them from getting crushed by snow and ice.
We are not doing a full spring rose pruning right now. This is more of a protective winter pruning to remove long canes that are likely to catch snow, bend, snap, or freeze into the ground.
For us, this is especially important with shrub roses like Lady of Shalott, Lark Ascending, Vanessa Bell, Ancient Mariner, and Reminiscent Pink. A little cleanup now helps prevent damage at the crown and makes spring pruning easier later.
It is also a good time to remove diseased rose leaves from the ground, especially if you have had issues with black spot on roses. Cleaning those up now can help reduce problems next year.
The last big job on our winter garden to-do list is bringing in the hoses.
Before the ground fully freezes, we disconnect our retractable hoses, wrap them up, and store them in the garage for the season. In a cold climate like ours, it is worth taking the extra step to protect hose materials and fittings from repeated freezing and thawing all winter long.
It is a simple task, but one that makes spring setup much easier.
Getting the garden ready for winter is not always glamorous, especially when you are working outside on a 28-degree day, but it is one of those jobs that pays off in a big way later.
A little effort now can mean:
Better hydrangea blooms in spring and summer
Less winter damage on roses
Protected garden tools and supplies
A stronger start when the garden wakes up again
We always remind ourselves that gardening is about thinking ahead. Winter garden prep is just one more way we set the garden up for success in every season.
Thanks for growing with us!
-Eric + Christopher, Grow for Me Gardening
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