Fall Hydrangea Care: Deadheading and Preparing for Winter

Getting your hydrangeas in tip top shape for the colder months

As summer fades and autumn sets in, your hydrangeas require some end-of-season care to ensure they remain healthy and strong for the winter months. One important tasks during fall is deadheading—the removal of spent blooms. Along with deadheading, there are a few other essential steps you can take to help your hydrangeas thrive when the weather turns cold.

Why Deadhead Hydrangeas in the Fall?

Deadheading, or cutting off old flowers, encourages hydrangeas to conserve energy that would otherwise go to maintaining these blooms. Removing spent flowers also tidies up the plant’s appearance and minimizes the chance of fungal diseases as the cooler, wetter weather approaches.

Should You Prune Hydrangeas in the Fall?  Pruning is a more complex decision than deadheading because it depends on the type of hydrangea you have.

  • Old-wood bloomers, like Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea) and Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea), set their flower buds on the previous year’s growth. This means pruning in the fall could remove next year’s flower buds. Avoid cutting back these varieties in fall, and save pruning for just after they bloom in late summer.
  • New-wood bloomers, like Hydrangea paniculata (panicle hydrangea) and Hydrangea arborescens (smooth hydrangea), bloom on the current year’s growth. You can prune these varieties in fall without worrying about losing next year’s blooms. Removing weak or damaged stems in the fall helps ensure a healthier plant in the spring.

How to Deadhead Hydrangeas

Deadheading hydrangeas in the fall is straightforward. Here’s a quick guide:

  1. Locate the spent blooms: Find flowers that are browning, dry, or starting to fade.
  2. Find the first set of healthy leaves: Move down the stem and locate the first set of healthy green leaves or a visible bud.
  3. Make a clean cut: Using sharp pruning shears, snip the stem just above these leaves or buds. Be careful not to cut too far down, as this could interfere with next year’s growth.

By removing spent blooms, your hydrangeas can focus their energy on strengthening their root systems, which will help them prepare for winter.

Additional Fall Hydrangea Care

In addition to deadheading and pruning (if needed), there are other simple steps to take to ensure your hydrangeas are well-prepared for winter.

  1. Watering – Hydrangeas need consistent moisture, even in the fall. Continue to water them until the ground freezes, especially if rainfall is low. This ensures the roots are well-hydrated before winter sets in.
  1. Mulching – Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of your hydrangeas. Organic materials like pine needles or shredded bark are ideal. Mulch helps protect the roots from temperature fluctuations and provides insulation during cold snaps.
  1. Fertilizing – Fall is not the time to fertilize hydrangeas. Fertilizer encourages new growth, which is vulnerable to frost and won’t survive the winter. Instead, save fertilizing for the spring or early summer.
  1. Protecting Hydrangeas from Frost – In areas with harsh winters, you may need to provide extra protection for your hydrangeas. For Hydrangea macrophylla, which is more prone to frost damage, consider wrapping the plant with burlap or covering it with a breathable frost cloth to protect the buds.

Deadheading, along with selective pruning, watering, and mulching, sets your hydrangeas up for success through the winter and into the following growing season. With just a little care in the fall, your hydrangeas will be ready to emerge healthy and full of blooms when spring returns.

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