Tucking Perennials in for Winter

Some Hardy Perennials Need Winter Protection in the North and Midwest, and Tender Perennials Require Special Protection Methods.

Many perennials hardy for your zone make it through winter just fine with no special attention. But in northern and Midwest gardens, some count on at least a blanket of snow early in the season to moderate soil temperature and protect from harsh drying winds. With the unusual weather patterns in recent years, bitter cold often precedes the snow leaving your perennials unprotected.

Just before the ground freezes, heaping on 4 to 6 inches of mulch, compost, or shredded leaves in and around the base of your plants will prevent the soil temperatures from rising and falling rapidly. This is essential for perennials not quite hardy for your zone, and will prevent frost and thaw cycles from heaving your perennials up out of their bed.   It also seems that perennials that are not cut down after the growing season not only provide winter interest in your garden, but also weather the winter better. This may, in part, be because the plants hold on to some leaves in fall and snow through the winter. Ever notice that plants that are left through the winter are the last areas to lose snow in the spring? That snow is preventing the soil from warming rapidly, keeping the perennials dormant until growing season has truly arrived.  Protecting hardy perennials is good insurance against a harsh winter.

Cutting Back Perennials
The one thing all experienced gardeners can agree on regarding this subject, is never cut a perennial to the ground while the foliage is still green.  The plant is still working on reserving energy for spring growth.  Wait until all foliage has died back naturally or until after a hard freeze to remove top growth.  Some plants that are cut back too soon may try to regrow in warm fall periods, not leaving enough energy to survive winter, or to produce a plant in spring.

The difference of opinion among gardeners relates to when foliage should be cut back, spring or fall.  Much research has made it clear that, at least with marginally hardy plants, old growth should be left through winter.  The stems catch and hold leaves and snow which are nature’s natural protective mulch.  The old plants will also provide some winter structure and interest.  Some are more attractive than others, with interesting seed capsules or dried seed heads.  However, any diseased or damaged foliage should be removed and disposed of to help control the problem next year.  Cutting back plants that were afflicted with insect problems such as borers or insects that lay their eggs in or on the plants will also reduce the likelihood of insect infestation next year.

The hardiest of perennials can be cut back to the ground in fall without much concern for survival.  If you have had any problems with disease or fungus, it is best to remove all old top growth before winter to help reduce the possibility of the disease recurring.  Even with marginally hardy plants, persistent disease may be eliminated if the infected foliage is removed.  Be sure to heavily mulch instead, or mound protective soil at the base, and then mulch.

Mulching

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Just about the time the soil is freezing, it is time to pile on the mulch.  Mulch does not keep your plant warm through winter, it helps the soil to maintain a more constant temperature and also helps it to retain moisture..  Soil that freezes, thaws, and freezes will eventually damage roots and may heave your plants up out of the soil.  You can choose from a variety of bark products from your local garden center.  Or apply compost, peat moss, or straw.  Be careful about using hay that is often available for Halloween or autumn decorating, it is often loaded with seeds that will sprout up like crazy next spring.  Pine boughs are excellent for covering evergreen shrubs to protect them from winter sun scald and wind burn.  If you use a real Christmas tree, recycle it by protecting your living shrubs.  Extra large leaves can work well for smaller shrubs and plantings.

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Plants and perennials that require additional protection to survive your winter will need a deep layer of mulch added by mid November or later, when the ground is beginning to freeze.  Do NOT add deep mulch too early or your plants will not be slowly exposed to colder temperatures, allowing them to acclimate for winter.  Leaves, other than oak or beech, are not recommended for mulching.  They tend to mat down and prevent air from reaching the soil, damaging your plants.  Grass clippings are also less effective than other mulching materials.

Certain tender perennials just can't be resisted even in northern climates. Before selecting a tender perennial, shrub or tree for your garden, be sure to check special methods for protecting them through winter.

When considering tender perennials, as well as tender shrubs, for your northern or midwest garden it is important to understand the preparations required for winter. A perennial is considered tender if it is not fully hardy in your zone, or may not be recommended for your zone at all. Look for information on the garden tag such as "hardy in (your zone) with winter protection". What that winter protection is generally is not on the tag, so a little research may be required. Your garden center staff should have some basic information, and often some very good tips. Extra mulch or compost mounded around the base of the plant may be enough.  Some will require up to 8 inches of soil mounded at the base.  A little creativity and experimentation will often produce excellent protection methods.  As in the photo above, mulching material covered and held in place by a porous (will let in air and moisture) covering is the primary objective.  Soil mounded up several inches at the base of the plant first will add more protection.  It is not advisable to select a plant more than one zone away from yours. Survival chances are diminished.

Many tender and not so hardy perennials can be protected in the ground, but the truly tender perennials need to be removed from the ground and stored.  You may not want to bother with saving bulbs and roots that can be replaced inexpensively, but if you have chosen the more expensive perennials such as tropicals, it may be worthwhile.

Clematis
There are many clematis hardy enough for the northern zones that need no winter protection other than, perhaps, some extra mulching. But clematis is often a special plant for a special spot. Finding the perfect one may take you out of your zone, and you may be quite willing to make an exception to a "no special care" policy.

Clematis twist their stalks around a support. If you use a mesh such as chicken wire around/over your support structure, the tender plant will be attached to the mesh rather than the structure. Before winter remove the mesh with the vine attached and lay it flat on the ground. Mulch the base heavily and cover the entire plant. If you need to lay your mesh out over the lawn, cover it with leaves and stake down burlap over.  Or just pile your bagged leaves from the lawn on top.  In spring, remove the mulch and reattach the mesh. When growth starts, prune back to a few strong shoots and remove the dead vines. (Note that pruning times can be different for hardy clematis, based on whether they flower on new or old growth.)

If your clematis was afflicted with a fungal disease, remove all infected vines and dispose of them by bagging or burning.  Cover the crown with a few inches of soil so it is now “deep planted”.  The most damaging fungus to clematis attacks at the soil line.  Then cover with at least a few inches of mulch.  Your clematis may regenerate, but could take a few years to fully recover.  Apply a sulfur based fungicide in spring.

Mums
Hardy Mums are not always so hardy in a northern garden. Even when recommended for your zone winter can be hard on them. Do not cut them back in fall, and mulch heavily at the base with leaves or compost after the leaves have begun to turn brown from hard frosts.  In zone 4 or colder, that may not be enough.  Mound up soil about 8 inches deep around the base of the plant.

Roses
Around six weeks before you might expect the first frost, stop fertilizing so that growth is slowed down, new growth is not sturdy enough to handle frost and freezing and will not survive.  Also stop deadheading and pruning roses, as both will encourage new growth.  Do continue watering however, that is essential to keep your roses alive and healthy as it prepares itself for dormancy.  Make sure the mulch covering the soil is still deep, several inches over the root areas.
Fall is a good time to add lime or some other amendment to adjust the soil if you need it.  Roses prefer a pH between 6.0 and 6.9.  Test your soil before adding lime.  See Soil Amendments for more information about pH and testing kits.

If your roses suffered foliage diseases this summer, remove all foliage and discard it (NOT in your compost heap!) after a hard freeze.  Diseased foliage allowed to fall to the soil may reinfect your roses next spring.

Check the detailed rose care instructions for more information, but if you are in or north of zone 6, even hardy roses will need extra protection.  Hybrid and grafted roses may need some protection north of zone 8.  Rose trees should be Minnesota tipped, heavily protected, or brought inside to a place that will remain about 30-40 degrees until mid spring.
 

Sharon Dwyer