If the herbaceous
perennials have particular winter interest, such as Sedum ‘Autumn
Joy’ & Calamagrostis `Karl Forester’, leave
the heads. No need to totally pillage the garden.
Once you have cut off the dead foliage, scapes, stems
etc, just lay them in the garden in the locations were you cut them.
On plants that have bushy stems, such as Aster, break or cut
them into smaller pieces.
If they have diseases, they should
have been cut off and disposed of long before this time. Also, unless
the plant is of strong sentimental value or totally awesome yet disease
prone, get rid of it and replace it with one of the more disease resistant
cultivars or a different type of plant. I can’t think of another
reason to keep disease prone plants in the garden.
Also, any NATURAL leaf drop from
the surrounding trees and shrubs I allow to remain on the garden. I’m
not talking about naturally wind blown piles or leaves piled feet deep
in the beds or forest. I am talking about what would naturally
fall if the plants were growing in a forested environment. Chances are
the plants that you have growing in your shady environment evolved in
forested environments. Yes, if the leaves become dense on those listed
above, damage often occurs. Yet, I have seen Pachysandra and Vinca performing
admirably in Quercus – Oak & Acer – Maple
forests.
Apply our PLGF fertilizer to the entire landscape.
See our link on the website for more information.
Next, cover everything, leaves,
stems, scapes, old flowers etc, except for those listed above, with
about one-half inch to one inch of double or twice shredded oak or
other mixed hardwood BARK mulch. Do not use wood chips. With the above
listed perennials, an even lighter or less than a one-half inch application
will not harm them. Actually it will protect them from the vagaries
of the winter’s sun, since
we haven’t received reliable snow cover for many years.
In rock gardens using gravel mulches, mulching with bark
mulch is not recommended.
For certain winter sun sensitive plants such as, Calluna,
Doboecia, Empetrum, Erica, Lavandula, Thymus and newly planted
(within this season or the past 3 years) coniferous evergreens, including Chamaecyparis,
Pinus, Picea, Thuja, Thujopsis, Tsuga, especially the dwarf and
miniature ones, cover with a couples of layers of nursery or landscaping
fabric. This will protect them from the vagaries of the winter sun
when and where lack of snow cover is the norm. Covering many gravel
mulched rock garden plants with nursery fabrics is also worth a try.
Use rock or giant landscape staples to hold the fabric in place.
In the Spring, once the ground has thawed about 6 inches,
remove the nursery fabric, dry, and store for next winter. Gently brush
aside the mulch from the above listed herbaceous perennials. Cut down
any grasses and other herbaceous perennials that have had their winter
interest.
Treat the garden with Pendulum Pre-M. See our web site
for further information.
The dead leaves, stems, scapes, etc are composting
in situ, under the thin layer of bark mulch.
No need to tiptoe through the
garden wondering if you’re
stepping on newly emerging plants.
You are now ready for Spring.
You may now relax and go about
other Spring chores such as cleaning out the garage while enjoying
the Spring garden.
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