Protecting Plants Before Winter ~ How, When and Why

It’s a question we frequently hear from customers: “Should I protect this plant during the winter?” The answer to this question is, “It depends…” not because we are trying to be vague, but because this decision is based on the type of plant, its location, and why protection is desired.

Plants can suffer all sorts of damage during the winter. Some get damaged leaves because of the wind, while others have scalded foliage due extreme cold or seasonal exposure to the sun. Landscaping that’s near the road can be hurt by the salt-spray kicked up by passing vehicles. Some shrubs, such as Sky Pencil Japanese holly or arborvitaes can be splayed open by heavy snow. Perennial plants might suffer in a winter when the ground alternately freezes and thaws, pushing their roots out of the ground. Here are some types of winter protection, and some situations where they can be helpful.

Burlap

Burlap is often used to protect plants from wind or salt spray, but there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. Never wrap burlap directly around plants – this can promote leaf damage and can wick moisture away from the plants. If you want to put up a burlap screen, first place stakes a few inches away from your shrubs and wrap the fabric around those supports.

Leaf Scorch

Broadleaf evergreens are especially prone to leaf scorch in the winter. Dry conditions cause leaves to die, and strong winds or sun can desiccate foliage. Plants that are already stressed from summer drought can be especially prone to browned leaves.

Apply Wilt Pruf in November or December when the temperatures are between 40 and 55 degrees. Do not apply just before rain is expected, as the product needs to dry. Spray the top and underside of leaves, and the canes on roses.

Hay, Leaves & Perennial Protection

Although most perennials are perfectly hardy on Cape Cod and don’t need protection, if you’re growing some marginally hardy plants and want to cover them, be sure not to put your materials down too early. When mulched too soon your protection can provide cozy places for mice and voles to live, and they will spend the winter eating the plants that you’ve been careful to cover.

The best protection for perennials is a layer of snow, but we can’t count on this in our area. Baring a nice, constant snow cover, perennials can be protected with any covering that has air spaces; you might use hay, chopped leaves, or evergreen branches. Do not use heavy materials such as bark mulch for winter protection.

Splitting Branches

Some plants are prone to splaying open or having their branches split when weighted with snow. Arborvitaes and Sky Pencil Japanese holly are two common examples. These can be loosely wrapped with foam-covered wire to invisibly hold stems together, or even tie the plant to a nearby structure. Just be sure not to tie anything tightly and totally around a stem; we often forget that such cords are there, and as the plant grows they strangle those stems.

Vegetable Protection

Most cold-tolerant vegetables will be fine on the Cape through December, but if you want to extend your harvests further into the winter, you can use floating row cover to make a low tent over your plants.

Critter Protection

We have a number of products in the store to help protect plants from deer, mice and other critters. Come in to see the range of repellants that are available.