University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Fall News
Article
WINTERIZING
ROSES AND OTHER NOVEMBER GARDENING TIPS
Charlie Nardozzi, Senior
Horticulturist
National Gardening
Association, and
Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension
Professor
University of Vermont
Forcing indoor bulbs, protecting
tree trunks, and getting roses ready for winter are some of the gardening tips
for this month.
Some woody perennials -- technically
called subshrubs -- such as butterfly bush, lavender, thyme, and heather, can
be damaged or killed if you prune in fall. Leave the stems as is, protect them
with mulch over the winter, and prune in spring.
Rose foliage can harbor insects and
diseases, both on the shrub and on the ground. Pull off any rose leaves that
are still hanging on, and rake up fallen leaves and bury them all away from the
garden or dispose of them in the trash.
All you need to force bulbs indoors
is a place that stays cool but above freezing -- 32 to 50 degrees. Pot up
daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, and other bulbs that need a cold
treatment, and water them well. For the best show, don't mix different types of
bulbs in one pot
unless
you're sure they bloom at about the same time. Then place the pots in cool
storage for about 12 to 16 weeks. Check on them periodically and water when the
soil is dry. At the end of the cool treatment, bring them into a 50- to
65-degree location for two weeks for growth to begin, then bring pots into
brighter light and warmer temperatures, keeping them well-watered.
Once in flower, keep the pots away from heat and direct sun to prolong the blooms.
To prevent sunscald and frost cracking
on young, thin-barked trees such as maples, wrap the trunks with tree wrap or
paint the south- and southwest-facing sides of the trunk with white, outdoor,
latex paint. This will reflect the warming rays of the sun so the tree bark
doesn't
heat
up on winter days, only to be suddenly cooled when the sun sets and the
temperature plummets.
Once the ground begins to freeze and
you have consistent temperatures in the low 20s F, it's time to protect modern
hybrid roses from winter's wind and cold. The simplest method is to mound bark
mulch around the base of the rose, covering the graft union (the swollen part
of the stem near the ground). The mound should be about one foot tall. Wait
until spring to cut back the canes above the mound. For added protection from
wind, place four stakes around the bush, then wrap chicken wire or burlap
around the stakes. Fill the center with mulch as deep as possible. You may need
to tie up long canes so they'll fit inside the cylinder. Avoid plastic rose
cones without ventilation holes at the top because they can heat up and damage
plants.
Make sure evergreens have a good
deep watering before the ground freezes because they continue to transpire,
albeit slowly, during the winter. Protect young evergreens from wind damage
during winter by wrapping them in burlap or using wooden protectors. Water
these plants whenever the temperatures warm up in winter and early spring if
there's no snow cover to provide moisture.
Return to Perry's Perennial
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