My ?? exactly and a couple of other ?? ... the unseasonably warm and sunny past 2 weeks here, woke up the patches around so abruptly and in a matter of 2-3 days are looking,gloriously promising! I worry about the marginally hardy ones that I have (1 purple tiers, 1 little elf, 3 big smile) the leaf blankets around (inside the wire cages wrapped in burlap) have matted down some. Should I add a few more loose leaves? ... the few little branches sticking out are starting to leaf out & can almost count on a late frost here to likely do some damage to my dear yearlings, will the burlapped cages be sufficient? Help please - I'm a very recent Hydrangea convert.

My 16y/o Nikko looks like a funny Cat shivering under her brown burlap poncho & a white-rose-cone Hat, on a 70deg sunny day ... but I'm determined this Spring of '07 to fight the urge to undress her too soon. I hope to be rewarded (on her 17th Blm-day) for my patience! It is my first attempt at a more serious over-Wintering efforts! ~(:>)

Wheres all the answers at?Tmac posted on sunday and today is Thursday.Where are the pro's?steve

Hi Ditas. Hey - did you get your Angel's Blush? Steve - I think things are stil slow from the winter season.

tmac, I can't speak as to different types of fertilizer. And, I'm not familiar with your climate there - I think you are warmer in Ohio than I am in Madison WI, though. At least some visitors last year told me that! I usually start fertilizing when they are just starting to leaf out. However, if I thought that they were leafing out due to an early spring warm up, I would not start yet. For me, I usually fertilize in early May.

Fertilizing is never a requirement. It is only necessary if the soil is deficient in one or more nutrients and your plants indicate so. Generally, a soil test is in order if you suspect a nutrient deficiency and this will tell you what it is and how to correct.

FWIW, if you are growing in the well draining, organically rich soil that hydrangeas prefer, fertilizing is seldom necessary. This is true with any woody-based shrub or tree - the existing soil should provide pretty much everything they need. Mulching with shredded bark or compost will also help replenish any needed nutrients as it breaks down.

Amending the soil to adjust pH for flower color is a bit different and that will tend to be an ongoing process. Should either be necessary, in spring as the new growth appears and/or in fall after leaf drop are the suggested times.

If it is growing, you can fertilize, expecially if you are trying to encourage a specific bloom color.

Hi Silvergold - 'have been busy with the Spring cleanup, prunning, uncovering my different perennial patches and mostly getting tickled to see the 2006-planted Hydrangeas starting to leaf out! I'll soon be looking for 'Angel's Blush' to set beside 'Little Lamb'! How are yours coming along?

I'm thinking of another one for a spot I prepared last Fall in the E back border with only early morning sun - perhaps a Quercifolia if I can deal with another, requiring winter cuddling!

Thanks for the 'Fertilizing' advice, Gardengal - does it apply even to young 2006 planted ones, will they not need a bit of boost for robust growth?

Hi Ditas. The only one I've seen starting to form leaf buds is my Preacox. It is supposed to leaf out early - but I'm betting it will be bit by frost. Usually mine aren't doing much until May - but with this early warm spell, who knows! Where in Iowa are you by the way? I'm in Madison WI - I know some parts of Iowa are warmer and some much coler than us. I was up by Lake Mills Iowa this past winter and it was very COLD. Brrrr.

Hi Silvergold - you visited the MN border of IA that I consider a double Brrrrr in Winter! Our own DNR set my WDM (30mi So of Ames) patch of soil as 5a. So, I'll just have to dress up my new garden beauties as if they are furless pets!

For the 1st time again, after having given up on a collection of very enslaving Hybrid Teas, I'm in the same lot! I was insanely securing the first Winter of the marginally hardy, new aquisitions - armed with nylon hoses, rolls of garden wire fencing & burlap, bags of mulch (cypress, pine needles & fallen leaves). I should just give up on the idea of Quercifolia and stick with our MidWest hardy beauties ... I'll just drool over my son's when I visit his NC garden in the Fall
I reason the premature leafing-out, to our unseasonably (50,60,70s) mostly sunny March days with overnite rains & still bare shade trees. Even the marginally hardy ones, still in their protective cocoons, are forced to show signs on their few branches, that managed to stretch out of their leaf blankets. I should perhaps remove the wet, matted leaf-mulch to prevent rot, leave them in their burlapped cages, and ready some protective bedsheet- topcovers for those frost threats. After viewing Ego45's posted pics(i realize he is Z6), I have to do my best on my Purple Tiers (serrata m-y-m). I Know I'm enlaved once again!

Hi Gardengal - I didn't realize that I'm only allowed to post 1 follow up on the same day - I tried soon after I submitted and was rejected.

I appreciate & will take your suggestions as I'm certain that my soil is healthy. Altho I purchased Aluminum sulfate I wont mind much if Nikko stays her sweet pink if only she'd reward my efforts this past Winter.

Back to you Silvergold, do you have a Quercifolia in your collection? Since you're in a similar zone I'd appreciate your input. I've been reading on her & found a thread on a Lillie Vaughn (a beauty in a windy Z5 area) I'm still getting tempted because of her Winter interests ... cinnamon stems & glorious Autumnal foliage! Any comments?

ditas, you can post multiple follow-up postings, but will need to amend the subject line slightly first. Not changing the subject line is what is preventing you from posting more than once :-)

See what I mean?? :-))

Thanks for this posting info 'how to' Gardengal, I learn something new each day - there are still a few initials (short hand) I'm just getting used to ... like lol :-))!!

I'm just so glad there's a place such as this!!!

Greetings to All,
I too, for the first time took a more serious approach to protecting my NB Hydrangeas. But of course we got anxious seeing so much new growth and warmth we took off cover and they went one night without cover in the freezing temps. Did that one night do serious damage and all that work for nothing???
I'm so worried. We did cover again last night but just wondering if it was too late. :-(

We got blasted by the cold too. Glad I didn't fertilize yet. I think I will wait until the coast is clear from this cold weather! Thanks to everyone!

Greetings everyone! - All the beauties that got lured by the sunny & warm last 2 wks of March and eagerly leafed out, did get blasted here ... record breaking lows from the gusty winds ... all the babes just died back :-(( I'm just glad I didn't get tempted to unbundle my Nikko and Lacecaps - just fluffed up the leaf mulch back up to cover the branches sticking out ... sure enough the blustery conditions came that very night! I hope the little buds didn't get damaged!

'Wishing all the best, on all of yours, as well!

I don't think I'll be having any blossoms this year. I think a late cold spell nipped them. I have a Nikko Blue, and an All Summer Beauty.
Now, for Mother's Day, bought myself a Blushing Bride. I want to have some blossoms each year, as I wait so long for them, then to have the cold snap end that. I'm getting ready to plant it, and I've bought a bag of compost and manure. .05/.05/.05. to mix with the clay/gumbo soil that is in the berm, where I'm going to plant it. I'll bring home some sandy loam from the cabin, to mix in too. Does this sound like a good mixture. The sandy loam, compost/manure, and the clay soil? I've got some old potting soil I may dump in there too, and mix it all together in my yard cart. Should I add anything else? Coffee grounds? egg shells? to the mixture? Should I mulch the top around the hydrangea? If so, how close? Up to the plant base, or out a few inches?
TIA
Leslie