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Winterize Your Garden

© Barbara M. Martin

Please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author. I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening!

WINTERIZE YOUR GARDEN

SHHHHHH! Here's a little secret I'll let you in on: if you have used plants considered hardy for your area, there really isn't all that much cause for concern. Hardy plants are made to take the cold and they do it pretty much on their own, with or without your help, year in and year out. That's why they are considered hardy and also in part why they are considered garden worthy. But don't tell anyone I said so. The garden pundits would have nothing to write about this month!

It's still dark outside and there is silvery frost on the windshield in the morning now. That means one thing: Old Man Winter is on the way! Your plants know this and are busy hardening off to protect themselves. Are YOU ready?

You can help your plants prepare for winter by mulching for winter protection and, in a few cases, you might want to take extra precautions beyond that to combat the elements. This is especially true for broad leafed evergreens and other plants which are susceptible to damage - say those "iffy" perennials that might be borderline hardy in your area.

If you are a rosarian and grow hybrid tea roses, you'll need to do some pruning now and pay special attention to those tender rose bushes. Here's how the AARS suggests you protect your roses this winter. If that's too much work, you might do better to stick with roses hardy enough to overwinter without protection such as "the Bucks" out of Iowa.

Bonsai enthusiasts take measures to protect their prized plants and will tell you the two major risks are freeze drying and rot. That's true for plants in the garden, too. Careful siting of plants, as with these alpines in raised beds and containers, can go a long way toward ensuring their survival.

In some areas, such as the Pacific Northwest, rain may be the enemy rather than cold. As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

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