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The Hollyberry Lady · 11-07-2010, 06:32 PM

Winter Protection...

Young Perennial plants are especially susceptible to winter injury caused by ice melting salts, extended freezing, temperatures, alternating freezes and thaws, and browsing animals. Plants that are marginally hardy in your area are more prone to these problems.

Sometimes perennials appear to have survived the winter and begin growing in early spring. But then, they suddenly take a turn for the worse and die! In other cases, they never awaken from their winter slumber. Either way, this is called "winter-kill"!!!

You can minimize winter-kill and other winter-related problems by taking good care of your new plants. Avoid pruning or feeding in late summer...both practices stimulate growth at a time when perennial plants are naturally becoming dormant. Water woody ornamentals throughout the fall & winter if rainfall is inadequate.

Tip: Use straw to protect the crowns of tender perennials such as Chrysanthemums...

Bulbs...

The bulbs, corms, or tubers of cannas, calla lilies, dahlias, and others should be dug carefully after the foliage of the plants dies. Remove any soil that clings to the bulbs. Place the clean, dry bulbs in a box filled with dry vermiculite. Cover the bulbs with vermiculite. Store the box in a cool dry place until spring.

Tulip, hyacinth, daffodil, and many other spring bulbs are fine to be left in the ground over the winter but I like to bury mine 8" deep instead of 6" for extra protection from cold and squirrels.

If you have a serious problem with squirrels however and they are relentless in eating your bulbs, you can cut a length of chicken wire and bend it into a tube shape that will fit inside the diameter of the bulb planting hole...

Fit the wire tube into the planting hole, lining the sides & bottom of the hole...

Cover the bulbs with soil and a handful of stones. Lay a blanket of wire over them.

Protecting plants from Wildlife...

Many animals feed on and damage plants during the growing season and through the winter. The first step in preventing animals from damaging or destroying your flowering plants is to identify the culprit. Then evaluate how much damage is being done. Do a little research to find out about their life cycle and habits before you attempt to circumvent them.

Deer feast on a variety of flowering plants. I was at a cemetary this summer and fall that's over-run with deer and they eat all the flowers people leave on the graves. They commonly wreak havoc even in city gardeners and a number of gardeners on this site are having problems with wildlife constantly thwarting their efforts.

As a matter of fact here was one of the bucks I snapped a shot of in the cemetery who was snacking on a bouquet of someone's fresh roses they'd left on one of the graves earlier...

The group of them were feeding on all the potted chrysanthemums in the area too...

Fences...at least 8 feet tall...remain the best defence against deer.

Rabbits often work from the bottom toward the top of a plant. They may prefer to graze one side of a plant or the garden that is closer to shelter. Protect small or young plants from rabbits by placing a lightweight fabric row cover over the planting areas with 1/2" mesh fensing.

Squirrels, ground squirrels, & chipmunks can be captured and relocated. Consult your county extension service for more suggestions about specific pests in your region.

More information soon...

: )

11-07-2010, 06:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,445,398 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Facing Your Mistakes! *Winter Protection...* Young Perennial plants are especially susceptible to winter injury caused by ice melting salts, extended freezing, temperatures, alternating freezes and thaws, and browsing animals. Plants that are marginally hardy in your area are more prone to these problems. Sometimes perennials appear to have survived the winter and begin growing in early spring. But then, they suddenly take a turn for the worse and die! In other cases, they never awaken from their winter slumber. Either way, this is called "winter-kill"!!! You can minimize winter-kill and other winter-related problems by taking good care of your new plants. Avoid pruning or feeding in late summer...both practices stimulate growth at a time when perennial plants are naturally becoming dormant. Water woody ornamentals throughout the fall & winter if rainfall is inadequate. Tip: Use straw to protect the crowns of tender perennials such as Chrysanthemums... Bulbs... The bulbs, corms, or tubers of cannas, calla lilies, dahlias, and others should be dug carefully after the foliage of the plants dies. Remove any soil that clings to the bulbs. Place the clean, dry bulbs in a box filled with dry vermiculite. Cover the bulbs with vermiculite. Store the box in a cool dry place until spring. Tulip, hyacinth, daffodil, and many other spring bulbs are fine to be left in the ground over the winter but I like to bury mine 8" deep instead of 6" for extra protection from cold and squirrels. If you have a serious problem with squirrels however and they are relentless in eating your bulbs, you can cut a length of chicken wire and bend it into a tube shape that will fit inside the diameter of the bulb planting hole... Fit the wire tube into the planting hole, lining the sides & bottom of the hole... Cover the bulbs with soil and a handful of stones. Lay a blanket of wire over them. *Protecting plants from Wildlife...* Many animals feed on and damage plants during the growing season and through the winter. The first step in preventing animals from damaging or destroying your flowering plants is to identify the culprit. Then evaluate how much damage is being done. Do a little research to find out about their life cycle and habits before you attempt to circumvent them. Deer feast on a variety of flowering plants. I was at a cemetary this summer and fall that's over-run with deer and they eat all the flowers people leave on the graves. They commonly wreak havoc even in city gardeners and a number of gardeners on this site are having problems with wildlife constantly thwarting their efforts. As a matter of fact here was one of the bucks I snapped a shot of in the cemetery who was snacking on a bouquet of someone's fresh roses they'd left on one of the graves earlier... The group of them were feeding on all the potted chrysanthemums in the area too... Fences...at least 8 feet tall...remain the best defence against deer. Rabbits often work from the bottom toward the top of a plant. They may prefer to graze one side of a plant or the garden that is closer to shelter. Protect small or young plants from rabbits by placing a lightweight fabric row cover over the planting areas with 1/2" mesh fensing. Squirrels, ground squirrels, & chipmunks can be captured and relocated. Consult your county extension service for more suggestions about specific pests in your region. More information soon... : ) Last edited by The Hollyberry Lady : 11-07-2010 at 10:20 PM. Reason: damn spelling!!!