Autumn is the period of preparation of the garden and vegetable garden for winter. One of the important activities that I carry out at this time is the shelter of plants, since not all trees and shrubs are able to withstand the cold. I want to tell you about which crops you need to pay attention to first of all.
Thuja
A coniferous plant that appears to be highly resistant to frost. However, this is not the case, especially when it comes to the first five years after planting. Adult plants are indeed able to withstand severe frosts, but the spring sun can be destructive for them: reflecting from the snow, it can cause severe burns to the needles.
I use burlap for cover, but old curtains or bedding will also work. I stretch the material onto a pre-built frame:
- I stick reinforcement into the ground around the perimeter of the root circle.
- I fix the mesh on it.
- I pull on the sacking.
Thus, the plant is reliably protected from strong gusts of wind, precipitation and bright spring sun.
Roses
On the modern market, there is a large selection of frost-resistant varieties that do not require shelter. For example, it is enough to prune floribundas and parks in the fall and huddle high.
However, I cover dwarf varieties and ground cover for the winter.
I recommend that you follow the procedure:
- Bend the shoots to the ground.
- Secure with a piece of wire.
- Cover with spruce branches on top.
Lapnik perfectly retains heat in winter, the air under it does not stagnate, there is no excessive moisture. You can replace it with sawdust or agrofibre.
I remove the shelter from the roses as soon as the snow begins to melt so that the shoots do not start to rot.
Hydrangea
The lush bushes of this fantastic beauty will grow quickly in the spring if you organize the proper shelter for them.
In the fall, at the end of October, I prune the hydrangea, leaving small stumps 20 cm above the ground. I huddle them high. Along the root circle, as well as around the thuja, I build a wire frame. I pull agrofibre on it.
So the plant will safely endure weather fluctuations, the coldest and even snowless winters. In the spring, as soon as the thaw began, I take off the shelter. The perennial is not afraid of recurrent frosts, but as soon as warm weather is established, it starts growing.
Grape
This culture is thermophilic, so it is important to build a reliable shelter for it. I recommend starting the event 7 days before the onset of the first frost.
There are several ways to hide this plant. I will tell you about those that I used in my practice:
- Snow. I remove the grapes from the trellis, fix the lashes with a wire. Snow is a reliable insulation material. However, my site is in the middle lane, and winters are not always snowy here. Therefore, I recommend choosing this method only for frost-resistant varieties.
- Soil. I spread agrofibre under the bushes, which does not allow water to pass through. I remove the vines from the trellis, lay them on the material and cover them with a layer of earth of 15-20 cm.
- Trenches. I dig a trench 20 cm deep 20 cm from the central shoot. I put a layer of sand on the bottom, lay the non-woven material and fix the vines. Then I sprinkle 10 cm of soil taken from the row spacings, make a hydro-barrier.
The culture hibernates safely in a shelter organized in one of the following ways.
So, some crops like thujas, roses and grapes need shelter for the winter. I start the event after the end of all work in the garden, shortly before the onset of frost. From the covering material I use agrofibre, such as spunbond, spruce branches or sawdust. They allow air to pass through well and retain heat reliably.
Read also: Let's figure out whether it is worth leaving the polycarbonate greenhouse open in winter or not.
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