Frost and moisture take their toll on all plants. Trees, shrubs, shrubs and perennial perennials that are grown in pots are particularly sensitive. Plants in containers are best wintered in bright, cool rooms with a temperature of 0-5 ° C.Another very good way is to pave the pots in the garden in a quiet place, in a position where there is no water, which can cause rotting of the roots. container and covered with earth. It is good to cover the lower sections of the shoots with bark or compost.
If we cannot overwinter the pots in such conditions, make sure that they do not stand directly on concrete, but on a thick polystyrene board (5-10 cm thick), and the containers are covered with several layers of cardboard, non-woven fabric or polystyrene.It is also important that the plant roots do not freeze.Always secure green bushes with non-woven fabric so that the leaves are not blown away by strong winds and warmed by strong sun.
With clematis, remember to tie their shoots to bamboo supports so that they do not break in the lower part.The most important thing is to water the plants on sunny days, when the soil gently thaws, because often the cause of their dieback is lack of water.
Popular always green shrubs include rhododendrons, Fortune's euonymus, Chinese drywood, myrtle tree, barbed holly, Meserva's holly, stiff-leaved viburnum, Prague viburnum, Burkwood viburnum. In the cultivation of young shrubs, it is good to cover them with branches of coniferous trees and shrubs, a shading net or several layers of non-woven fabric during the first 2-3 winters.In winter, shrubs lose quite a lot of water, because they cannot absorb it through the root system (if the soil is frozen), therefore we supplement the mulch within the plants, protecting against deep freezing of the soil.
Half-shrubs are plants in which, in the climatic conditions of Poland, the upper sections of the shoots do not become woody for the winter. These include, for example, roses, David's budilla, garden hydrangea or long-leaved perovske, and sometimes (in severe winter), the Syrian hibiscus.These plants should be protected before the onset of winter.Before winter cover, all dry shoots damaged by diseases and pests should be removed (preferably to a he althy place).
Care of plants wintering in the ground
It is also very important not to prune he althy shoots - it will be time for this in spring. At the beginning of November, when the soil freezes to a depth of 3-4 cm, we proceed to protect the plants against large winter frosts.The easiest and very effective way is to cover the bushes with soil, preferably to a height of 20-30 cm.Earth should be brought from another place, so as not to choose it near plants because of the roots that can be exposed. Then the bushes can be covered with branches of coniferous trees and shrubs.
Rake and remove fallen leaves from under the bushes so that they are not a source of plant infection in spring. We do not compost diseased shoots and leaves, we only bury them deeply or burn them. In the case of taxa that are less overwintering and sensitive to frost, such as wisteria, for example, we completely cover the young plants with straw or other permeable material that will protect them from freezing. It is necessary to supplement the mulch, and we also dig the lower sections of the clematis shoots. It is also very important not to cut the vines (except clematis), as this treatment can significantly contribute to the poor wintering of these plants.
Good to know
To protect plants, do not use foil or other materials that impede water and air, because they enhance the resumption of juices during sunny days.In the evening, due to a sharp drop in temperature, juices freeze in the tissues, causing them to freeze.
Snow as a natural cover
When choosing the material to cover, remember that it should let both water and air pass through.The best natural cover is, of course, snow, which is why shrubs are always green in white winters and have very good wintering conditions.It is very important, however, to shake the snow cap off the branches of trees and shrubs to avoid breaking them . It is worth noting here that the curling of the leaves in a roll during frosty weather is a natural behavior that protects the leaves from excessive evaporation (the evaporation surface is reduced).
