Mm LAWN 



WINTER PROTECTION OF OUT-DOOR PLANTS. 



'HIS is a subject that is often a 

 source of anxiety to those who 

 have a collection of plants in their 



?^J garden that are not entirely hardy 

 in character, and that are unable to resist 

 the vicissitudes of winter weather success- 

 fully, unless some protection other than that 

 provided by nature is given them. 



Our anxiety for the welfare of the tender 

 occupants of the garden is very often an in- 

 ducement to bestow too much care and at- 

 tention in this matter of artificial winter pro- 

 tection. 



A mistake also that often occurs in this re- 

 spect is that of covering up and protecting 

 the plants too early in the winter, before 

 the growth has been sufficiently hardened 

 to enable it to resist even the partial exclu- 

 sion of air that of necessity takes place when 

 any artificial covering is given to plants. 

 This early covering of plants as mentioned, 

 results at least in a decided weakening of 

 the vitality of the plant, besides rendering 

 it more liable to attacks of mildew and 

 other diseases during the following season. 



Roses often sufi^er in this way from being 

 too heavily mulched and protected before 

 the wood has been even fairly well ripened. 



Where an earth mulch is applied by bank- 

 ing up the soil around the stem of the plant, 

 it has of necessity to be done before severe 

 frosts set in. The time for this operation, 

 however, can often be extended well into 

 December, by applying a mulching of straw 

 manure or some similar material on the soil 

 around the plants, so as to keep the early 

 severe frosts from penetrating the soil. 

 This mulch can be removed when there is a 

 probability of severe weather setting in, 

 when the earthing up process can be at- 

 tended to finally. 



When artificial protection is given plants 

 during the winter, more especially roses, 

 tender climbers and shrubs, it is necessary 

 to take into consideration two very import- 

 ant points, so as to secure the best results 

 possible. These points are to arrange the 

 material used, so that air is not entirely ex- 

 cluded from the growth; and due regard 

 given as well, so that moisture from rain, 

 melting snow, etc., will be prevented from 

 penetrating the protective material used. 

 Placing dry leaves around the growth and 

 retaining these in position with brush wood 

 until a barrel can be placed over them, is a 

 good way to protect many of the dwarfer 



