Remember our blog in June regarding why there was so much winter kill from the winter? Now is the time to act to minimize the effects of a possible dry, open winter.
August is the month where trees and shrubs (especially evergreens start to store moisture for the upcoming winter. While yes, we have had ample amounts of moisture these last few weeks, many long hot days of summer are still ahead of us. Typically, 1-3” of moisture is needed per week for trees and shrubs. If we start to experience a drying period, start watering your plants by slowly soaking around the root area. When determining if you should water as always feel the soil! Make sure the soil is not saturated before watering, if the first couple of inches are starting to dry then you know it is time to water! If you have a lawn irrigation system, this is not sufficient for watering trees and shrubs unless you have devoted drip lines to your plants. Continue to water your plants until the ground is frozen, so keep those hoses out until just before the ground freezes up!
While perennials don’t always require extra protection, they also do not do well when exposed to subzero temperatures with no snow cover. Since we do not know how much snow is going to fall this year. Be prepared to add a blanket of mulch over your perennials, especially those that are prone to winter kill like newly planted echinacea, rudbeckia, daisies, and Endless Summer Hydrangea varieties, etc. You may not need to mulch them at the time of cutting them back this fall, but as temps start to reach the teens and if there is no snow cover, add several inches of mulch to blanket the crown and root zone. Next spring uncover the mulch a couple inches at a time, and remember that some perennials will not start to grow until well into the spring.
While there Is no guarantee that watering enough and mulching will get all plants through an open, cold winter, it definitely will help its chances. Don’t put away the bags of mulch or hoses too early this fall, your plants may need them!
