A Master Gardener's Journal

by guest blogger Mary Concklin, Montgomery County Extension Educator.

The cold snap accompanied by the strong winds earlier this week had the potential to desiccate vulnerable plants. And it is safe to say we can expect this weather to repeat itself before winter is over. I’d like to think that everything in our yards is hardy for our zone, but in reality many of us push the limits on what we can grow. We love new and different plants and as die-hard gardeners we may win once in a while. However, if these plants can’t be moved to a protected spot or brought inside, they will need to be protected some other way.

One method is to wrap them with burlap or plastic. Place stakes around the plant and wrap the material using the stakes to support it. Piling leaves in between the burlap and the plant provides added insulation. I don’t like to wrap the burlap tight around the plant because I lose the insulating air pocket.

If you use plastic it is even more important that you don’t wrap it tight around the plant. If the plastic is still on as the plant begins to grow in the spring, or if we have another warm spell in mid-winter as we had last year and the plant pushes new growth, any flower or leaf buds the plastic comes in contact with at freezing temperatures will be damaged. Snow is another very good insulating material but, if the past few years are any indication, we shouldn’t count on it.

Plants hardy to our zone that are in containers too large to be brought inside should be moved to protected sites. To prevent the roots from freezing, I pile bags of shredded paper around the containers. I haven’t lost a plant yet! I have seen others dig a hole and place the container in it. That works also.

Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

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