Natural blanket keeps plants alive over winter
By GARY WADE

In a few weeks, gold, red and yellow leaves will flame on tree branches across the state. And then they will drop. Instead of spending your fall dragging leaves to the curb, consider using them as a blanket for your plants.

Winter is approaching, and your plants need a warm bed just as much as you do.

While the tops of landscape plants go dormant for the winter, roots don't have such luxury. They continue to grow all winter. Active growth means the roots can't acclimate to cold and can easily be damaged if not provided extra insulation.

For instance, studies have shown that the roots of Southern magnolia can be killed around 25 degrees, while the roots of pyracantha and dwarf yaupon holly can be killed at 20 degrees.

Our soil seldom gets this cold, but who wants to take a chance when prevention is as easy as one-twomulch?

One of the best winter antifreezes for the landscape is fall leaves. Three to five inches of leaves placed over the soil will keep plant roots toasty warm this winter.

The key to success when using leaves as mulch is to reduce their size by shredding them. Shredded leaves don't blow around like whole leaves.

If you don't have a shredder, simply place the leaves in small rows about one foot high and two feet wide. Then, with the lawn mower wheels in the highest setting, run over the row a time or two.

A bagging attachment or a nearby tarp can collect the shredded leaves, which make a fine-textured mulch.

Use shredded leaves as a mulch under trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials.

I've used fall leaves to overwinter begonias, petunias and lantana in my landscape. These plants will perennialize throughout most of Georgia if you provide them winter protection.

After the first killing frost, I cut them back to the ground, cover them with at least five inches of shredded leaves (more if you have them), then leave them undisturbed until the next April. With a well-established root system, the plants will usually come back better than before. (Gary Wade is a Cooperative Extension horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
The Office Cat	2
Neighborhood vandalism is out of control	1
The Office Cat	1
Drug problem growing; little is being done	1
The Office Cat	1
Family escapes death in semi hit-and-run	1
Feed a family of four for $10 a week	1