The same kinds and amount of mulching materials should be applied over garden perennials to give them the protection they need for winter survival. It is best not to apply mulch until after the surface inch or so of the ground is frozen because it then serves the important purpose of stabilizing soil temperatures, preventing rapid and sharp fluctuations that would cause "heaving" of plants and exposure to lethal temperatures.
Tidying Up
Another late garden activity that comes some time in November, if not earlier or later depending upon location and the weather, is the annual pre-winter clean up. This is important in connection with the controlling of insects and diseases as well as from the standpoint of good appearance.
Dead tops of perennials should be removed after they have been blackened by killing frosts. Annuals should be dug up and removed from the garden scene, root and all, because the larvae and eggs of most of the common garden insects winter over on the dead tops of plants.
Their removal and destruction will go a long way in reducing the annual threat from this source. Diseases, too, over-winter as spores on plant remains making it doubly important to remove all dead tops of plants.
Home growers of raspberries will find it worthwhile to lay the canes down and cover them with soil before the ground freezes. Just covering the tips, which is the method of winter protection usually provided by commercial growers, will be sufficient where a snow cover can be expected.
Strawberries must be "hardened" before covering them with a two-inch layer of marsh hay or straw. Plants like red emerald philodendron should be exposed to freezing temperatures before being covered but they should not be exposed to temperatures below 20 degrees.
Obviously, everything cannot be mentioned in this column, but one more comment is so important that it should be made: "Don't burn tree leaves." Save them for mulches under evergreens, trees and shrubs or for the garden, and put the surplus in a compost pile. - 33393
Tidying Up
Another late garden activity that comes some time in November, if not earlier or later depending upon location and the weather, is the annual pre-winter clean up. This is important in connection with the controlling of insects and diseases as well as from the standpoint of good appearance.
Dead tops of perennials should be removed after they have been blackened by killing frosts. Annuals should be dug up and removed from the garden scene, root and all, because the larvae and eggs of most of the common garden insects winter over on the dead tops of plants.
Their removal and destruction will go a long way in reducing the annual threat from this source. Diseases, too, over-winter as spores on plant remains making it doubly important to remove all dead tops of plants.
Home growers of raspberries will find it worthwhile to lay the canes down and cover them with soil before the ground freezes. Just covering the tips, which is the method of winter protection usually provided by commercial growers, will be sufficient where a snow cover can be expected.
Strawberries must be "hardened" before covering them with a two-inch layer of marsh hay or straw. Plants like red emerald philodendron should be exposed to freezing temperatures before being covered but they should not be exposed to temperatures below 20 degrees.
Obviously, everything cannot be mentioned in this column, but one more comment is so important that it should be made: "Don't burn tree leaves." Save them for mulches under evergreens, trees and shrubs or for the garden, and put the surplus in a compost pile. - 33393
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