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Winterizing Your Landscape
Tips for Winter
Protection
Protecting your valuable
ornamentals against harsh winter weather only cost a
little, but it could save you the cost of replacement
later.
Water Landscape Plants
Regularly
Plants use water in
the fall, as they are still functioning and carrying on
their regular life processes. Water plants weekly,
providing at least one inch of water (unless there has
been a rainy day that week).
Control Threatening
Pests and Animal Damage
Inspect landscape
plants for signs of lurking insects or troublesome
diseases. As temperatures drop, pests diminish, but
threat problems as needed to help plants stay healthy as
winter approaches. Always rake fallen leaves around
landscape plants. Pests often over-winter in the leaf
litter and cause extensive problems next season. Prevent
mouse and rabbit damage by covering young tree trunks
with tree wrap up to the highest snow line. Discourage
animals from invading your landscaping with protective
cover like deer netting. You can either use the netting
upright (like a fence) or wrap it around the trees.
Replenish Mulch
Compost or wood chips
such as Cedar or Pine Bark Mulch are great for mulching
over the roots of plants. Mulch keeps moisture in the
soil, reduces weeds and helps moderate soil temperature
changes. Maintain a 2 to 3 inch mulch layer over roots
this fall.
Prune Sparingly
Prune dead or
diseased branches from plants In the fall, but delay
major pruning until spring when the plants are actively
growing and have the ability to form new callus tissue
quickly to seal off the pruning wounds.
Fertilize Trees and
Shrubs in Late Fall
Killing frosts and
continued cool day temperatures force plants into
dormancy. Once this happens, fertilize shade trees and
some deciduous shrubs. Apply a fertilizer such as Agway
Arborgrow Tree and Shrub Fertilizer to the layers of the
soil where the roots are so that when growth begins next
spring, it is available to the plant. Always delay
feeding until the plants are dormant so there is no
chance of forcing new growth late in the fall.
Spray Evergreen for
Extra Protection
Since evergreens, both
needle and broadleaf types, continue to lose moisture
from their leaves during winter, many gardeners help
them by applying an antidessicant such as Wilt-Pruf
Plant Protection, which coats the leaf surfaces and
reduces water loss. Rhododendrons, hollies, boxwoods,
azaleas and andromedas benefit from such an application.
Even hardy evergreens, such as yews, spruces and pines
that are situated in windy locations endure winter with
less winter burn when they are sprayed with an
antidessicant.
Wrap Borderline Hardy
Plants
Roses, some azaleas
and hollies may not be completely hardy for your area.
Late fall is the time to provide extra protection by
wrapping them in burlap, a wind guard or another
protective material. Leave openings at the top and
bottom so that the plants can breathe. Rose cones are
easy to use and provide good protection for roses that
are too small or delicate to wrap.
Prepare Shrubs
and Trees
Upright evergreens
can be protected for the damage caused by heavy snows by
simply tying up the branches with heavy string or rope.
A shrub frame will keep low-growing trees and shrubs
from being crushed by heavy snows. |
