WINTER PROTECTION 



branches are beyond their reach, protect the trunk with 

 straw, tar paper or burlaps, which will also prevent 

 sun -blistering. If the shrubs are in groups or low- 

 branched, run wire netting around them. Fall-planted 

 material should be better protected against frost than 

 established plants of the same species. All the Japa- 

 nese flowering forms of the plum, peach and cherry 

 tribes should have their roots mulched four or more 

 inches deep. The fatal damage in the winter of 18y8-99 

 was at the roots, not overhead. Figs. 2731, 2732 show 

 protection by means of straw and boughs; 2733-35, pro- 

 tection inside of boxes, barrels and wire netting. 



Plants with evergreen foliage, like Eenchera saiir/id- 

 nea, are safer with a covering that will not mat down 

 and rot the foliage or injure the crown. Tlie danger is 

 in open, wet seasons. Forest leavi-; an' cx.-flliiit for 

 winter covering, provided they do m't mi.t .l"\vii. Oak 

 leaves are good, but those of elm. iii:i|.l. an^l ciiher 

 trees that shed their foliage early ai. --It ami mat too 

 much. Leaves may be held in place tt\' tv-r^rtaii l.uugbs, 

 brush, or tops of bushy perennials like our native as- 

 ters, or coarse strawy material. When leaves are used 

 in barrels or boxes, the top of the package should be 

 water-tight, and the leaves dry when put in. This pre- 

 caution is not essential in all cases, but it is a safe rule 

 to follow. Tar paper is comparatively cheap and comes 

 handy in many phases of winter covering. Gather the 

 leaves when they are dry, and store under shelter until 

 wanted. Save vines like those of ''' >>"■'>■■■ vnvirnhtta 

 and pole limas ; they are good f r ., . . , , i ii,liing 

 roses that are almost hardy. Tht ~> :. ; , i : . I:rii,'ht 

 sun when the plants are in a .smu u- . i. ■ ii<lition. 



WINTER PROTECTION 



1981 



2731. Straw overcoats for roses. 



shield them from the drying winds, and retard prema- 

 ture starting of the flower-buds. Forsythia snspetisa 

 trained as a climber on a south wall is benefited by 

 such covering, or by burlaps, as its sheltered position 

 induces activity too early and its flowering buds become 

 a victim to late frosts. Any rhizomatous iris, such as 

 the German iris, should be planted where surface drain- 

 age is ample, and in the case of young plants, or those 

 recently divided, not covered with heavy manure, or 

 they are likely to docav in wet weather. Cover such 

 plants with light material. Old established plants 

 seldom need protection. Pijrethrum roseum requires 

 similar conditions and treatment. AH lilies except the 

 hardiest, such as i. iigrinum, elefians. Canadensis, 

 superbum, PhiladelpJiicum, sperinsinn , frnrnf"li!nii , 

 etc., are best covered by a mound nf a-lii<-\v"M,l ,,r 

 coal— which retains an even teni|Hratiii.'. 'I'll' i.tlier 

 lilies maybe mulched with manun- ami /,...,„,;„;./„; 

 with leaves. Eremurus in all its spe'-i*-;, aii'l J l<h-u- 

 meria aurantiaca, require a deep box of leaves and the 

 surrounding soil well mulched. An inverted V-shaped 

 trough placed over s-nch low edging plants as f'eyonica 

 cirecBoides and Tlti/miis Serpyllum, var. montanus, is 

 beneficial. It is well to take up afew plants otMonarila 

 didyma, the double perennial sunflower, and Tliymus 

 Serpyllum, and winter them in a coldframe, over which 



place an old wooden shutter or anything to shed rain, 

 placing leaves or manure over those that remain. 



Where permanent wind-breaks, such as plantations of 



i^^ 



bound with branches of hemlock. 



specimen of Gordonia about 10 feet high. 



2732 A tender 

 The protected tree i 



at Arnold Arboretum, Boston 



evergreens, buildings or solid fences, do not exist, tem- 

 porary ones should he made of boards, evergreen 

 boughs, corn-stalks, etc., to protect arboreal plants that 

 are not qviite hardy, e. g., in this climate Halesia 

 telraptera, and in the eastern states Magnolia grandi- 

 flora, hollies, etc. Place the wind-break at the sides to- 

 wards the prevailing winds, generally north and west, 

 and at the sunny side of any evergreen that browns. 

 The boughs or stalks may be attached to wire netting 

 or to cords fastened to stakes. 



The so-called retinosporas may have placed over 

 them an empty box open at the top. Shrubs that are 

 still more tender should be boxed, the box having a 

 tight top and ventilation at the sides. In all cases 

 mulch well at the roots. Magnolia Soulavgeana. M. 

 speciosa and plants of similar degrees of hardiness 

 may have their branches tied in and empty casks placed 

 over them, one .sitting partially inside the other, and 

 held in place by stakes. Put a cone-shaped covering 

 over the top to shed the snow. Or poles may be set 

 close to the tree, wigwam fashion. Wrap these with 

 burlaps, or wind string around them for the straw to 

 lean against, and in both instances wrap with straw. 



The so-called hardy climbing roses, such as the Seven 

 Sisters and Prairie Queen, which are hardy without 

 protection but are benefited bv it, Wichuraiana and 

 its hybrids, Paul Carmine Pillar, Russell Cottage. 

 Crimson Rambler, Thalia, and Lord Penzance Sweet- 

 brier hybrids, if against a wall, may have clematis or 







M^ 



2733. lOne way of protecting youne rhododendrons. 

 The space inside the wire netting is filled with autumn leaves 



