Learning to cover coniferous crops for the winter

Coniferous plants create a very special atmosphere of a fairy tale and comfort on the site. Cultures are quite unpretentious, pleasing to the eye even when there is not a single green leaf left on the site. Today we will talk about how to properly protect this beauty in winter so that not a single needle freezes.

Do I need to cover conifers?

Breeders have bred many frost-resistant varieties of conifers, but even they should be insulated in the first year of life, and what can we say about exotics! Summer residents with experience know that it is not low temperature that harms plants, but:

• prolonged thaws during which crops evaporate a lot of moisture. They cannot replenish it, because they are at rest, and therefore dry up;
• frosty wind — it especially often breaks tall perennials. To avoid this, it is advisable to plant them along the walls of the house or fence, as well as surrounded by other trees;
• the sun’s rays — they are quite active even in winter, so they leave burns on the delicate needles.

Don’t leave your «thorns» defenseless against these factors, but before you cover them, you need the right preparation.

The subtleties of preparing conifers for wintering

In order for trees and shrubs to winter without loss, they need:

Watering. Moisture charging of plants is obligatory, it can be skipped only if the autumn is rainy (from an excess of moisture, the cultures begin to rot). Water generously, the water should wet the ground at least 0.5 m deep.

Top dressing. In autumn, conifers do not interfere with feeding. A mixture of magnesium and dolomite flour, compost or biohumus is best suited for this. Fertilizers will not only help crops to overwinter, but also accelerate their development in the warm period. If you wish, you can take some complex preparation, the main thing is that it does not contain nitrogen — this element stimulates growth, and it must be applied in the spring.

Mulching. Cover the trunk area with bark, hay, coniferous litter or sawdust. The layer should not be too thick, otherwise it will attract voles and other rodents.

Shelter. Each conifer needs its own insulation. So, for example, it is enough for frost-resistant varieties to tie their paws to the trunk so that the wind does not break them. Exotic perennials require more careful hiding, but it is important not to overdo it, otherwise they will rot. Remove all insulation as soon as warming comes. It is better to do this in cloudy weather.

Secrets of warming medium-sized conifers

Cover spruces and pines only in the first winter, and separate types of fir, cypress, yew and cedar — from year to year. You need to act according to the following scheme:

Gently bend the paws to the trunk and fix them in this position with twine. Tie loosely so as not to injure the perennial.

Put a cap made of agrotextile on the plant. You can buy it at a garden store or make your own. In the second case, wrap a tree or bush, and secure the edges with a stapler.

If you are afraid to damage the branches of your prickly pet, then build a plastic or wood frame around it and cover it with any material:

• spunbond;
• burlap;
• lutrasil;
• agrospan.

Important! You should not make a metal frame and cover it with a film — a metal mesh or sheets conduct cold well and can greatly harm plants, and the film does not allow moisture and air to pass through, and provokes rotting of crops.

How to insulate undersized conifers

They are easier to cover due to their size. You can build a hut from pine or spruce paws over them. If you live in the north of Belarus, and the temperature in your area drops below -20 ° C in winter, then cover such a “hut” with an additional plastic container.

Follow our tips and your «thorns» will feel comfortable even in severe frosts!

Article author: Natalia