How to Prepare your Perennials For Winter

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By psychonurse
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Boston Public Garden, hibernating for the winter

My garden is fading quickly.
Since I only use perennials, there's work to be done soon, to protect these plants from dying over the winter. I continue to water my plants (if rain is insufficient)--because plants need to be well hydrated,in order to make it through the winter. Mulching is needed twice a year, spring and fall, in preparation for extreme heat and cold.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Organic materials

Step 1

Winter mulch prevents the freezing and thawing cycles, which cause damage
through heaving, and often killing the plant. It also retards erosion.The application of mulch should wait until after the ground has frozen.
Step 2

What to use:
Winter mulch should be of a loose material, such as straw, which will allow air filtration.
1.If you use leaves, use only stiff leaves, such as Beech or Oak. Maple leaves tend to pack together, making air and water filtration difficult. 2.You might try grass clippings for mulch, if the lawn hasn't been chemically treated. The grass must be dried out, before be used as mulch.
3. Pine needles are a good mulch, especially for acid loving plants, like azaleas and rhododendrons. It won't bother the other plants, as long as they aren't used year after year.
4. Shredded bark may alter the ph of your soil.
Step 3

How much mulch to use? It is offered that less than 8 inches is not sufficient, as rain and snow compress mulch.
Step 4

Remove the winter mulch in the spring, as soon as you notice new growth
on the plant.

Tips & Warnings

Use of organic materials, fertilizes the soil, as it decomposes.
Use of "new mulch", recently processed from tree limbs shouldn't be used if you mix it into the soil, as it will draw the nitrogen away from the plant. . Until It's aged a year, then safe to use.