Protect your ornamental plants from winter damage

Cold weather damage to your ornamental plants are potentially fatal to the plants. The amount of damage caused by cold weather can vary from year to year and plant to plant. There are several preventative measures that can be taken during the fall to keep you ornamental plants alive through the winter.

Several general precautions should be taken with almost all of your ornamental plants during the winter months. The first thing is to bring in any potted plants underneath a porch or the eaves of your home.

For plants that are planted in the ground, their roots can be covered with additional mulch, newspaper or cloth tarps. Applying these things will maintain an even soil temperature and keep it from becoming cold. It is also important to water the plants thoroughly before the first freeze of the season.

Covering the ornamental plants entirely is another way to protect them. Recycle old blankets and sheets and use them to cover your plants when the temperature drops. Plastic can be used as well, however you will want to make sure that the plastic covers the plant but doesn't touch the leaves.

If the next day brings temperatures that are significantly higher than the night before then the plant covers should be removed and replaced before the sun goes down again. You will also want to wrap the trunks of young planted trees with burlap or cloth.

Tall, upright ornamental plants can sometimes be damaged by wind, snow or ice. To protect these plants from snow and ice, fasten twine at the base of the trunk and wind it around the branches. This keeps the branches from becoming weighed down and breaking. To protect your plants from the wind, you can construct a windbreak that will block the wind.

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