By Scout Nelson
Although November temperatures across much of Kansas have remained unusually warm, colder winter weather is approaching, making it important for gardeners to prepare their plants for freezing conditions.
Pat Melgares of the K-State Division of Communications and Marketing reports that taking preventive steps now can help protect gardens from winter damage.
Kansas State University horticulture expert Matt McKernan recommends special care for two popular garden plants, roses and strawberries, to help them survive the colder months.
Winterizing roses
While most shrub roses can withstand Kansas winters, hybrid tea roses and several modern varieties may need additional protection, McKernan said.
"It is important to winterize roses after several hard frosts have occurred but before the ground freezes," McKernan said. "Winterizing too early keeps the stems warm and moist, which promotes the growth of mold. Winterizing too late risks damaging the sensitive graft union where the root stalk attaches to the above-ground growth."
Gardeners should begin by removing fallen leaves and other debris around rose plants to reduce the risk of diseases surviving through winter.
McKernan recommends building an 8- to 10-inch mound of soil or compost around each plant. Bringing in fresh soil rather than using nearby soil can help prevent accidental root exposure.
After the ground freezes, gardeners should add approximately four inches of straw, leaves, wood chips or other mulch over the mound and cover it with soil to keep the material in place.
"This will help protect plants from the cold and also prevent early budding during warm winter and early spring days," McKernan said. "As the mulch settles during winter, you may need to add more."
Rose canes should be trimmed to about 36 inches, with weak and thin growth removed. Remaining canes can be loosely tied together to reduce wind damage.
"If the canes are allowed to whip in the wind, it can cause damage to the crown and disturb the roots from the soil," McKernan said.
Once the ground thaws in spring, gardeners should remove the protective mulch and soil around the plant's base.
Winterizing strawberry plants
Strawberries also require winter protection, regardless of their age. McKernan recommends applying a three-inch layer of straw mulch after several frosts but before severe freezing conditions develop, generally between Thanksgiving and Christmas in Kansas.
"Sudden drops to freezing can kill fruit buds and injure roots and crowns," McKernan said. "When the soil freezes and thaws repeatedly, plants can also be heaved out of the soil, exposing the roots."
McKernan advises applying mulch when temperatures are forecast to fall below 20°F, particularly during this unusually warm fall. Once the cold weather passes, gardeners can temporarily uncover plants to allow further hardening before winter conditions return.
Photo Credit: adobe-westhoff
Categories: Kansas, General