As weather cools, prep plants for winter

A bubbling pot of beef barley soup, hot beer-batter bread, warm apple pie slathered with ice cream and snuggle time in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate in my coziest fleece robe. After a long hot summer, cooler weather would be a welcome change.

I lament that my garden does not speak to me as clearly as my body. If it did, I would be well on my way to winterizing it for the coming season. This language barrier encourages dependence upon the advice of others to illuminate the path toward winterizing my garden and preparing it for the spectacular show that will be the envy of the neighborhood next spring

A few chores completed when the weather cools will eliminate substantial work and springtime problems. For instance, to protect trees and shrubs from moisture loss, winter burn and damage, provide ample, deep watering through early November. Rhododendrons, hollies and Oregon grape benefit from a spray of Wilt-Pruf or Forever-Green, applied on a sunny, 40-degree day in November or early December to protect the leaves from moisture loss. Mulching with a thick layer of leaves or pine needles around the drip line of rhododendrons helps prevent winter injury.

Protect the trunks of young trees from freeze damage by using commercial tree wraps or white latex paint diluted with water. Clean up fallen fruit, leaves and dead branches where pests and disease can hide.

At the end of summer, stop deadheading spent rose blooms but leave the hips to signal the plant to harden and prepare for winter. By the third hard frost, trim long rose canes by half, and remove weak shoots and diseased canes. If you have a grafted rose, just before the ground freezes, mound the soil about 12 inches around the canes and cover the graft completely with bark, straw or pine needles.

Let Jack Frost kiss the stalks of perennial flowers to provide interest in your winter garden, but remove the large outer leaves of perennials to avoid colonizing the next generation of slugs and earwigs.

It’s not quite hot chocolate and a cozy fire, but it’s exactly what your garden needs to prepare for its long winter nap. By preparing now, your garden will reward you with healthy, strong, vibrant spring color.