Confused about what to do with your hydrangea plant this season before winter arrives? Here's the answer

With so much happening in the garden this autumn and winter, it can get a little overwhelming and sometimes knowing what's best for each plant going forward can be a mystery.

Whilst you've been completing your October gardening jobs this month, you might've been pondering what the best next steps are for your hydrangea plant. It'll probably be well on its way to drying out and becoming dormant for the winter months; however, there are a few steps you should take to give it the best chance at surviving the cold weather.

The next time you're out protecting your garden from heavy rain and winds, here are some jobs to add to your to-do list to help your hydrangeas thrive.

Whilst you may already know how to prune hydrangeas, deadheading them before the colder months is a common point of confusion for gardeners. And knowing how to prepare them for winter isn't always the most straightforward task.

"We're talking autumn hydrangea care and whether it's a good idea to cut those flowers off. Hydrangeas are seriously hardy plants, and they'll survive quite well throughout the winter, but there are a few things we can do to keep them nice and happy," begins Ish Kamran, garden design expert and influencer at @Gardening.with.ish on Instagram.

"First of all, I'm going to hold off feeding. I want to allow this to start to wind down over the next few months and then go dormant for the winter, so feeding is not necessary anymore," he explains.

"Something that is still necessary, though, is watering. By all means, make sure these stay hydrated; otherwise, they're going to stress out before they go dormant, and you don't want that. It's still a little bit warm in October, so make sure this soil is staying hydrated," Ish adds.

So, should you deadhead hydrangeas this time of year or are they best left alone?

"The most common question I get is, 'Should I deadhead my hydrangea flowers before winter?' and the answer is yes and no, which is helpful to no one. First of all, you can see that a lot of my flowers have been cut off on this one," continues Ish.

"That's because we had a windstorm. As a result, I had a fair few snapped stems; as it starts getting colder, it gets a little more moist, and that can start introducing infection into the plant. So I've deadheaded those away to make sure that they don't get any infection, but I've still got a few drying and a few that'll stay dead," he points out.

"I'm gonna leave those over the course of winter because they make a great thermal barrier to keep these a little hardier," says Ish.

That way you won't have to worry so much about protecting the plants from frost when the temperatures eventually drop below zero.

"Hydrangeas may be hardy, but they can still benefit from a bit of mulching. Whether you've got some multi-purpose compost, some bark or some shredded leaves, apply that to the base of the plant and give it a thermal barrier to keep the roots happy in the cold weather," he finishes.

Luckily, you won't need to worry about your hydrangeas too much during autumn when the wet weather arrives, as they are one of the best plants for wet gardens. However, they will need these helping hands to get through the cold snaps and frosts that winter brings with it.