p-nana

I've been bubblewrapping them for our first 3 winters here in Portland (bubble wrap around each of the 3 clumps and fill the center with straw, covering the clump with plastic), but that sure seems like overkill for the kind of cold we have, and it's quite time consuming and expensive now that I have so many stems (see picture in my gallery). I know that they will come back from the ground if I screw this up, but they are so tall now I hate to do that to them.

About 10 days per year (2-3 nights per month in the winter) it gets to be slightly below freezing overnight in the winter, usually 27 is the lowest point. (I'm about a mile from the river in SW at ~300ft).

I am tempted to just throw straw or leaf over the corms this year and see how it goes, but I'd like to hear others' experience in the Portland area.

Questions:

* Some things I've read indicate MBs are good down to 20f, but I don't know if that means the stems or not. Seems like they would freeze at 32F on the outsides...Can you freeze the outsides and have the stems survive anyway?

* Should I try to keep the mulch dry with plastic or leave it uncovered to air out whenever it stops raining for a minute in the winter? (Keeping it dry on the bottom is impossible, but maybe keeping it dry on top is doable.)

* Anyone in PNW try using only burlap for stem protection? How'd that go? One layer or more? I'm wondering if that might be less rot-prone than bubblewrap.

* Some advice I've read for southern climes is to let the leaves die down and stay in place to protect the tops of the stems for winter. Anyone do that?

* Do you think I could I just string xmas lights on the stems and turn them on when it's below freezing?

* Two stems died last winter. Looks like the tops rotted. I have not removed them, although I cut them back. What's the best way to deal with those? Hatchet? Wait and see?

Thanks for any tips. Sorry for so many questions. I'm new here and have been saving them up!

norteno

I have a neighbor here in Portland on NE 54th that never protects her grove at all and it is HUGE and impressive. Some years she loses some stems but the grove that has now formed is very vibrant and always comes back strong. I have had great success with wrapping stems with a white frost cloth I got from Portland Nursery. It is breathable and easy to apply. A good idea would be to just wrap your biggest stems and let the rest fend for themselves. The stems will survive some freezing, but maybe not a really long cold streak. They will be root hardy though after a few years in the ground. In short, I have come to believe that wrapping is good for the stems that you would hate to lose but unprotected plants that are well established need no protection to come back strong every year. They say we are zone 8B here but I would argue that in town, with the warming affect of development, we are 9a.

p-nana

That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks so much. I think I'll still pile some leaves up at their feet just in case.

norteno

P-nana,

I checked out your grove in your photo album. That looks very established! I'll try and take a pic of my neighbors grove either tonight or tomorrow and post it so you can see how big hers is without any protection.

-James