Kingsville Nurseries _ Kingsville, Maryland 
MULCHING AND PROTECTION DURING WINTER. Some 
plants must have protection during the winter. Shallow 
rooted plants must have a good mulch over the roots. 
(Rotted hardwood sawdust, ground corn-cobs, ete., are 
good for this purpose). This prevents the plant from 
lifting out of the ground during the freezing and thawing 
periods. If in doubt about the plant needing the mulch, 
then mulch and play safe. 
Tops often freeze or burn during the winter. Place a 
covering of cut honeysuckle, pine, spruce, etc. over the 
plant to shield from warm sun. Boxwood can be kept a 
handsome green if given this covering during the winter. 
Azalea flower buds are also protected against freezing 
if given this cover. 
Never use fresh manure for mulching as it will very 
likely cause damage around the base of the plant, also 
it is a harboring place for insects to store over winter. 
Use good old rotted manure if available. 
EARLY WINTER WATERING. Though late summer 
watering is discouraged because it stimulates a late soft 
growth on plants, it is extremely necessary that all plants 
go into the winter in a good moist condition. September, 
November and December are usually on the dry side 
with only little rainfall; therefore, a heavy watering 
should be given plants sometime in late November or 
early December to make certain that they do not go into 
winter in a dry condition. Watering at this time will 
cake many plants that might otherwise die during the 
winter. 
PRUNING IS SIMPLE TO FOLLOW. During late winter, 
only prune back hard those plants that do not flower 
until summer and fall. Example: Vitex, Buddeleas, Al- 
theas, ete. 
All plants that flower during the spring should never 
be pruned until after they flower, then hard pruning can 
be done and new shoots for the following spring flowers 
will develop rapidly. Example: Forsythias, Spireas, 
Mock-orange, etc. 
Healthy plants are good to look at, and enjoy having. 
aeee them healthy by giving them the little care they 
need. 
