Winter Protection
Although we complain about
getting too much snow, it serves a purpose of protecting the roots
of our perennials, shrubs and trees during the winter. We
always advice to NOT mulch over your perennials until after the
ground freezes, so that you do not smother the plant.
Typically this can be done by Nov./Dec., but when we're still
getting 40'F days in Jan. this can be too much.
The best is to keep the
mulch to a minimum (1-2") until we see temperatures stay below
freezing. But if we do not get any snow and temperatures drop
below 0'F, you should make sure to get at least 3" mulch over the
plant to help it survive till next Spring. Do not use leaves
as these can do more damage, use a hardwood mulch instead.
Then once the temperatures increase in the spring and bulbs begin to
push up from the ground, pull the mulch away from the plant, so they
do not overheat and get smothered.
Below are additional care sheets for more
specific recommendations:
