How to Winterize Artemisia
Tip
You can spray your artemisia with an anti-transpirant spray in late fall and again in early winter to prevent leaf and stem death due to water evaporation caused by cold winter winds. These sprays are usually used in Zones 6 and colder.
Warning
Do hard pruning of artemisia in spring or early summer. A hard pruning is reducing the plant size by more than 1/3. A hard pruning in fall exposes open pruning cuts and new growth to wet, cold weather, causing winter kill of the pruned areas and possibly of the entire plant.
Make sure your artemisia is planted in well-drained soil. Soggy soils can cause root rot and eventual death of the plant over the winter.
Artemisias are a species of Mediterranean herbs distinguished by their silver, white or gray foliage. There are over 300 different species of artemisia. Most artimisias are referred to as mugworts, white sages or wormwood, except for tarragon, which is also a type of artemisia. Artemisias make wonderful borders for flower and vegetable gardens, and although many can become invasive if left to their own devices, several cultivars, namely Silver King and Silver Mound, form very slowly, spreading tidy mounds. Artemisias don't need much in the way of winter care.
Shear off faded flower stalks in late summer or early fall.
Remove dead or broken branches. Make the cuts 1 to 2 inches into live wood at a 45-degree angle above a strong branch or bud.
- Artemisias are a species of Mediterranean herbs distinguished by their silver, white or gray foliage.
- Artemisias make wonderful borders for flower and vegetable gardens, and although many can become invasive if left to their own devices, several cultivars, namely Silver King and Silver Mound, form very slowly, spreading tidy mounds.
Mound 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the base of the plant and over the root zone. This prevents frost heave (roots are exposed due to soil expanding and contracting during thaw/freeze cycles) and protects the roots from freezing.
Give your artemisia 1 to 2 inches of water a week during the fall. Stop watering two to three days before predicted freezing weather.
Divide your artemisia. When the center becomes woody and open and the plant starts to flop to the sides, dig up the plant, removing as much of the root ball as you can. Divide the plant into three to four sections, removing the vigorous outer growth from the woody center. Replant the sections as normal and discard the center. You may only need to divide artemisia every three to four years.
- Mound 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the base of the plant and over the root zone.
- When the center becomes woody and open and the plant starts to flop to the sides, dig up the plant, removing as much of the root ball as you can.
Related Articles
References
- Perennials for Every Purpose; Larry Hodgson; 2000
- Artemisia: Information and Growing
- The Garden Primer; Barbara Damrosch; 1988
Resources
Tips
- You can spray your artemisia with an anti-transpirant spray in late fall and again in early winter to prevent leaf and stem death due to water evaporation caused by cold winter winds. These sprays are usually used in Zones 6 and colder.
Warnings
- Do hard pruning of artemisia in spring or early summer. A hard pruning is reducing the plant size by more than 1/3. A hard pruning in fall exposes open pruning cuts and new growth to wet, cold weather, causing winter kill of the pruned areas and possibly of the entire plant.
- Make sure your artemisia is planted in well-drained soil. Soggy soils can cause root rot and eventual death of the plant over the winter.
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