Protecting Your Garden From Winter's Worst
By Jos Van Hage
Sunday, October 12, 2008 04:31 AM
With the first snow flakes falling down on the city this week, we know that winter is just around the corner and it is time to get the yard and plants winterized.
There a few things that can be done now to help plants survive the upcoming winter weather.
If you have planted trees, shrubs and perennials that are hardy for our zone (zone 3 or lower) you should not have to worry about the cold temperatures harming them. When you choose trees, shrubs, or perennials that are zone 4 and up you may want to give them some extra protection to help them through the winter depending on where you live. Some areas in Prince George experience micro climates that do not get as cold as other areas in our region, and also if you plant in a protected area of the yard it may be one zone higher.
If you want to offer extra winter protection to your perennials you can cut them back to 6 inches from ground level so that when it starts to snow, the snow will get caught in the leftover stubble. Snow is Mother Nature’s thermal blanket, protecting plants from the cold. For those newly planted perennials or those that need the extra protection you can spread some peat moss, or disease free leaves over the plant and then remove it again next spring.
Newly planted trees should be staked to protect them from strong winds. Use a heavy metal stake 3-5 feet long and place it 12-18 inches into the ground around 4-6 inches away from the main stem of the tree. Secure the 
tree to the stake using tree rope, jute or an old garden hose; do not use wire or plastic as this will eventually cut into the tree and damage it. Also on all your deciduous trees you will want to wrap a mouse guard along the first 3-4 feet of trunk to prevent the mice from eating the bark of the tree over the winter.
Cedars should be tied to prevent the heavy snows from bending and breaking the limbs. ( see photo at right as a wrapped cedar is spared the weight of the snow)
Use cotton string, burlap, or reemay and wrap it around the tree. Alberta Spruce, or rhododendren, should be wrapped with reemay or burlap to protect them from the wind drying out the foliage. Never use plastic, to wrap your trees as this creates and holds moisture which will in turn cause mold and fungus that can cause damage to the tree, which is why you always want to use something that will allow moisture to get out and not trap it in.
Trees, and shrubs can get an extra boost of potassium by applying 0-0-50 fertilizer. The potassium helps increase disease resistance as well as aid in plant hardiness. This is especially helpful to any trees or shrubs that have been stressed or shows signs of weakness.
This time of year is not the time for pruning, but if you have roses they should have half of the new growth pruned off. Then next spring when the buds start to show you can finish the pruning by doing the fine tune pruning. All the sub-zeros, hansas, morden, etc. varieties are zone 3 or lower and should winter over well. The roses that need extra protection are the floribundas and tea roses as they are not hardy for our area. You can cover them with a Styrofoam rose hut and you can also cover the base of the plant with peat moss to help them through the winter.
By doing these fall chores now you can help your plants to an easier winter for survival and hopefully have a healthy landscape next spring!
-Jos
Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Garden Centres in Prince George,
- Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
- Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road
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Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 04:31 AM in
Home and Garden by
Jos Van Hage
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