This morning I looked at my beautiful but dormant hydrangea and noticed that the recent warm spell had started it budding. Then a cold snap turned the buds brown. This week it started budding again and I wondered if this was going to prove to be a problem in the spring - having sprouted twice when it's only going to get cold again. It survived being crushed by a tree last year and I would hate to lose it to a cold spell. Advice anyone?

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Bev

It depends on which one you have. I have one that I do not know the name but it is one that blooms on old wood.

I would not do any prune projects until after it blooms if you want to cut anything off. Or you will not get any blooms at all.

After the first frost I put garbage bags filled with leaves around the small ones I have. The big one I let it do what it may. Some years they are full with blooms other years I get a couple of flowers.

They have newer ones that are good for cold areas that bloom on new wood.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/audwoman/

If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain!!

J.V. ...I know that many deciduous plants like a dormant period. You might try to harden them off by keeping them in a sheltered spot, then pile mulch around the pots after the soil has cooled thoroughly. Have you had any frost yet?