Snow and Frost and plants

moonpenny

The recent snow and frost has killed some of my plants!

The most important one is my Hydrangea which was planted a couple of years ago and was doing quite well. (A Mophead one with big white flowers)

All its leaves have turned black and drooping but the dried flower heads are still upright.
Is this completely dead or will it come back next year? Do I need to do anything to it or just wait and see what happens?

DE_612183

My hydrangea comes back year after year, all the leaves fall off and the heads just go to dried brown heads - but it's still grows.

Not sure why the leaves are black but I would suggest removing them if they are still on the stems.

FlorayG

It's absolutely fine just leave it. In the spring when you see buds then remove the old mopheads ( leave them for now they provide shelter for insects)

moonpenny

Thank you both.  I will just leave it and only remove the Mophead in the spring.
Maybe I should have wrapped it in something to protect it from the frost!

twopenny

I don't think you need to wrap it.

They are tough old beasts (other than pe/andicular) and the old gardeners used to always leave the heads on, and the leaves if any, to protect the new buds.

The onlly thing they don't like is lack of moisture. Probably not a problem this year!

The only reason for the black is because you still had leaves on, thats unusual. The frost finished them. You can leave them on to protect the buds or, if the sight is driving you nuts there will probably no harm to remove them. May just be a bit slower to grow in the Spring - depending on the weather then.

moonpenny

The look of it doesn't  bother me really as it is right at the bottom of garden.  It was covered in big leaves but I will leave well alone.

I think I could see some tiny buds already so keeping fingers crossed.

fatbelly

Hydrangeas are tough old things. I don't think we get temperatures cold enough to kill them