Originally Posted by bananadude

I have always just cut them down to about 16 inches....removed the mulch from around the base and then mounded dirt up around the base on a slope, so water will run away from the base during freeze thaws!

I then replace the mulch(cypress), putting down a good layer 10-12 inches thick and about a foot out...I then cover the stem with a heavy duty rose cone, (I sprayed mine black-inside and out...to help absorb heat)....and then I cover it with black bisqueen, the black bisqueen seems to keep it around 8-10 degrees warmer under there then the actual air temp outside, (you can actually dig in the dirt in the middle of winter under there, the ground just does not freeze hard) this has always worked for me!

Good Luck!

Brian