Boost Your Hydrangeas This Winter: Experts Recommend Adding Compost for Bigger Blooms

Hydrangeas, known for their resilience against the chill, still require winter prep to ensure they bloom beautifully come spring.

While it might feel odd to ponder over spring during autumn, getting your garden ready now is a key tip to lusher blooms next year , promising an eye-catching spectacle.

Monrovia's gardening gurus share some expert gardening tricks and hacks and recommend a final hearty dose of compost or organic matter in fall for hydrangeas, likening it to "one last hearty meal" that will help them conserve energy for the blooming season.

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They explained: "Give your hydrangeas a boost for the next growing season by adding compost to your beds in the [autumn]. After a good night's sleep, everybody feels better with a good breakfast in their belly. The same is true for hydrangeas."

"Applied now, compost can break down overwinter, making nutrients readily available in spring. Even in areas without a deep freeze, a few inches of compost is a good idea.", reports the Express .

But why opt for mulching over fertilizing when it comes to autumn hydrangeas?

Fertilizers should be avoided as autumn sets in because they can spur hydrangeas to sprout delicate stems and blooms too susceptible to cold snaps.

These premature shoots won't have the chance to mature before the first frost hits, potentially weakening the entire plant and jeopardizing its winter survival.

An expert gardener recommended: "We're only talking compost here! Don't offer your hydrangeas nitrogen-rich fertilizers which might incline them to put out new leafy growth."

Then came the golden rule for autumn care: mulching helps insulate hydrangeas, protecting their roots and crowns from cold snaps.

Another green thumb shared: "To give hydrangeas their best chance at success, apply a layer of chunky mulch around the base of the plant. Decorative mulch is helpful but we recommend straw, marsh hay, or fallen leaves."

Not only does mulch help hydrangeas retain nutrients and warmth, it also keeps weeds at bay by creating a suffocating blanket over the soil that prevents pesky plants from taking root.

The trick also locks in soil moisture, easing the gardener's load as it eliminates the need for frequent weeding or watering amidst winter's chill.

The experts advise waiting until the ground freezes before mulching: "After the ground has frozen (or in warmer zones late [autumn] or early winter) and you've top-dressed with compost."

"Apply a 6"-8" layer of mulch. This insulates plants and protects plants from the heave-ho of spring freeze/thaw cycles. This can push them right out of the soil."

However, one crucial tip is to avoid mulching too soon in the season to prevent drawing in unwanted visitors like rats and slugs or fostering disease.