How to Protect Plants from Winter Elements
Living in a colder climate doesn’t mean you need to give up on more fragile plants. By adequately preparing your less-hardy plants for the winter, you’ll set them up to survive and thrive!
2023 | Source: Chelsea Green Publishing
The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been adapted for the web.
Protect Plants from Winter Elements
Anyone who has tended a garden in the northern parts of the United States over several years understands that each growing season is distinct because of the vagaries of the weather. While each season has similar qualities to those of the year before, no two years are exactly alike.
Some winter seasons bring massive amounts of snow and abnormally cold weather, while others deliver only a few inches of snow. All the combined elements of snow, wind, temperature, sun exposure, and fluctuations between winter and spring affect the plants in a garden.
Those readers who live where winter temperatures do not fall below 10°F (−12°C) might not need to worry as much about the winter protection measures listed below. When a tree or shrub is young and has only been in the ground for a single growing season, it is vulnerable to winter damage.