Winter Protection Program to Keep Plants Healthy This Winter!

After a tough winter this past year many plants suffered from a combination of desiccation and root damage. Don't let that happen again. Protect your plants this fall and winter to keep them healthy for next spring.

Most consumers will take their automobiles to a service station in the fall and winterize their vehicles. They do this so the car does not break down. Well the concept is the same for plants, including turf.

Plants are very similar to people and if you don’t protect your skin (leaves) or insulate your body (mulch) you could be frostbitten (winter damage). 

As the days become shorter and the weather gets cooler all plants start to get ready for the winter. It is very crucial that the plant totally shuts down and so by fertilizing with a fast release or inorganic fertilizer you may harm the plant if applied to late. 

Water is also a necessary element to allow the plant to hibernate. The more moisture within the plant tissue than the better chance drying winds won’t desiccate the foliage as much. Making sure you don’t over water the plants, just having enough moisture in the ground before it freezes solid.

Pruning the exterior foliage too late will open up the older, protected leaves, to more damage. Wait until early spring for that. Keep in mind that large overgrown plants around the house will insulate the home and help reduce the loss of heat throughout the winter.

Mulching plants extra deeply in the late fall will insulate the roots and prevent freezing and thawing temperatures from killing a certain percentage of the roots. Keep in mind that in the spring you will need to remove or pull back the added mulch as to not inflict root damage to the plants during the growing season.

What to do:

If by chance you do anything and the plant still does not survive the winter it may be a case of wrong plant for the location or Mother Nature at her best. Once you have accessed the health of the plants and looked at whether they are in the proper location we recommend the following products:

1. Wilt Pruf - The safe way to reduce moisture loss when plants are under water stress due to drought, transplant shock, winter kill, and windburn.
   
   
2. TransFilm - (Contractor's Only) TransFilm is an improved anti-transpirant that effectively reduces the water loss of plants. A single application in late fall provides winter protection.
   
   
3. Mulching  - Mulch is a security blanket for all plants. In the winter it will insulate the roots and provide adequate moisture during the summertime heat. Organic mulch will supply nutrients and condition the soil. Depending on the kind of mulch, you will minimize the amount of weeds that can develop in the garden. Above all, if attractive, it will create a more esthetic look to the landscape. It is the frame around the landscape portrait.
   
   
4. Burlap and Tying plants – This is a great way to buffer the wind coming at the plants. The burlap will filter a minimal amount of wind white not suffocating the plant.  Keep in mind the plant must breathe, do not wrap too tight.
• BURLAP PAC, the original packaged burlap, is a medium-weave, 7 oz. burlap for gardening or any other odd jobs around the house.  BURLAP PAC is especially useful for winter protection of valuable evergreen shrubs and bushes. 
  
  
5. Staking trees is recommended only in windy areas. 
   • We sell 2" x 2" pencil pointed, hardwood Nursery Stakes for heavy duty tree support.
     
     
6. Fertilize with potassium - “the body builder”.  One product available is PHC BioPak® Plus 3-0-20*. This will improve the mineral nutrition, color, and flowering of trees and shrubs with its combined micro nutrient treatment and bio fertilizer inoculant. Contains the beneficial rhizosphere bacteria of PHC BioPak, with potassium, chelated micro nutrients and yucca extract. Apply by soil injection or drench.

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