Put down winter mulch

 

Why it's a good idea to apply a winter mulch in the garden?

When the ground is just about frozen, it's time to apply a winter mulch, especially around garden plants with shallow roots and any new additions that have not had a full season to get established. The purpose of winter mulch is to keep the ground consistently frozen. Without this protection, the soil will likely thaw and refreeze. As the soil expands and contracts during this cycle of freezing and thawing, it can push plants up out of the ground, exposing their roots to biting cold and drying winds.

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What are the best options for winter mulch?

Fallen deciduous leaves are one option for winter mulch, as is an additional layer of bark mulch. The best winter mulch for plants in cold zones is snow. Snow keeps the ground consistently frozen and it disappears in the spring. The next best thing  is to use evergreen boughs. You can get them for free at this time of the year, extra cuttings off of Christmas trees in places like home improvement stores have loads for the taking.

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Protect Shrubs from Winter Damage
When cold temperatures and winter weather, such as snow, sleet, wind and ice set in, it's easier to stay inside when you know your shrubs are safe and sound. Winter sun, wind, and freezing temperatures can affect plants, resulting in sunscald, desiccation of evergreen foliage, damage, or even killing of branches and roots. While we might want to hibernate and think all creatures are doing the same while a fluffy white blanket of snow covers the ground, the reality is that deer and small animals, such as rabbits and rodents, are foraging for food. Plants in your landscape are likely part of their winter smorgasbord as they feed on twigs, bark, flower buds, and foliage. Here's how to keep your shrubs safe until spring. Protect plants from animals using hardware cloth with a 1/4-inch mesh. Make cylinders to place around vulnerable plants, such as burning bush, blueberry, barberry, and shrub roses. Place around the shrub stem and push the lower edges of the cylinder into the ground to form a barrier. 

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Protect Shrubs from Harsh Winter Sun
Newly planted shrubs are just as susceptible to sunscald as young trees. The chance for damage increases if they were pruned in the fall, exposing trunk tissue. Consider wrapping the trunk with a protective material, such as burlap or light-color corrugated paper. The key is to keep the bark temperature from extremes of cooling and heating. Established trees and shrubs won't need this protective wrapping, unless they have thin bark.

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Protect Shrubs from Winter Burn
Arborvitae and yews are some of the most susceptible shrubs to desiccation and winter burn. Younger, smaller plants can be protected by propping pine boughs -- one way to recycle your Christmas tree branches -- over the plants to act as a windbreak. This also helps catch snow, which acts as insulation. Low evergreens that are covered with snow are better protected and able to withstand wintry temperatures than those left to weather the winter sun and wind.

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