November: Third Week 



PUTTING THE GARDEN TO SLEEP FOR THE 

 WINTER: PROTECTION OF ROSES; SHRUBS; 

 BULBS; PERENNIALS; SMALL FRUITS. 

 CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR STOCK PLANTS; 

 MATERL^S FOR SPRING WORK INDOORS 



One of the last things to be done outside, and one of the 

 most important things for the success of the garden, is to 

 put to bed for the winter plants that require protecton — 

 to apply mulching where it is needed, in the right way, at 

 the right time. 



Mulching is used to protect plants from thawing rather 

 than from freezing. Consequently care should be taken 

 that it is not appHed too soon. Nothing that is hardy 

 enough to survive in the open ground will be injured by 

 the first few cold snaps of autumn — in fact. Nature provides 

 for this as a process of ripening that the plant should go 

 through in order to do its best the following season. As a 

 general rule the mulch should not be put on until the groimd 

 is frozen hard and severe weather appears to have set in. 



Winter injury to plants is usually due to one of three 

 conditions: Alternate freezing and thawing; heaving of the 

 soil, causing exposure of the roots; and too severe freezing 

 of tops or roots. The latter condition is seldom the cause 

 of damage. 



It will often be as late as the middle of December before 

 the mulch is required, but the materials should be obtained 

 at once. There are several good materials for mulching, 

 any of which may be obtained with Httle trouble in most 

 locaKties. Stable litter, or thoroughly dry stable manure, 

 will serve both as a mulch and a valuable source of plant 

 food. Marsh or meadow hay, or grain straw, may be 

 utiUzed; the former stays put better and is not so conspicu- 



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