The coverup question
Posted on September 13th, 2007 – 5:57 PMBy Connie Nelson
Yowzer! The temps have been dipping into the 30s and it’s only the middle of September. That means we gardeners have to face the age-old dilemma:
To cover, or not to cover: that is the question.
Whether ’tis nobler in the garden to suffer
The slings and arrows of autumn’s cold,
Or to take arms against it with a sea of bedsheets,
And by opposing autumn, prolong summer? To die: to sleep;
No more; And by sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That a gardener is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep; perchance to dream of a more bountiful garden - next year.
Ay, there’s the rub.
Do you cover your annuals and tender perennials at the first sign of frost? Or do you let them go? Do you write bad poetry about your garden? Will you share it with us? How ’bout if we say pretty please?
12 Responses to "The coverup question"
Connie, are you grieving
Over garden plants unleaving?
I haven’t the patience tonight to continue bastardizing Gerard Manley Hopkin’s poem, so I’ll leave it at that.
I will cover some annuals if there’s an early frost, though by mid-October, I’m ready to say goodbye.
It often seems that our first frost is followed by a couple warm weeks. That’t the time to dig up dahlia tubers and canna rhizomes. Better not wait too long for that chore. Last year, I was digging stuff up in the dark with temps in the upper 30s, and a light rain. Ugh.
I just planted some perennials last weekend. I’m more concerned about the roots (whether or not they will come back next year) than preserving this year’s flowers. Do I need to cover these? With what?
You should be o.k. with the perennials roots. If you are concerned cover the base of the plant with leaves, grass clippings, sheredded news whatever.
What about veggies? Do I need to cover up my tomato plants?
This year I added a new Hibuscus plant to my garden. Do I need to bring it in for the winter or simply cover it?
I will be covering my tomatoes and basil tonight! We got a late start with our tomatoes and are in the middle of a bumper crop. One plant is six feet high and produces HUGE tasty fruits. I think we’ll need king size sheets to save that one from the cold.
SueS,
What kind of hibiscus did you buy? There are several hardy hibiscus that can winter outdoors, but many are not hardy.
Hey Erin,
Like DebW, I wouldn’t be concerned about newly planted perennials right now. They should be fine. I would, however, make sure they get plenty of water through the fall and that you mulch them well once the ground freezes. You planted them in plenty of time to get established before it gets really cold, but since they are garden newbies, you want them to be well-prepared for winter.
Cathy,
I’d probably cover tomato plants, especially if they’re growing in containers rather than in the ground. I don’t know if we’ll get a hard frost in the Twin Cities, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
Hey Peter Hoh,
Loved the Garden Manly Hopkins! And thanks for the reminder. I forgot all about my dwarf dahlias. Guess I’d better put digging them up on my to-do list. . .
Attempting to save my plants from freezing temps by covering them with blankets or sheets only invites the dog to lay on them….they don’t survive either way!
Wow, Beth, that’s a bummer.
But remember that blankets and sheets only offer a thin layer of protection. If it gets REALLY cold (which isn’t in the forecast tonight), not even a heavy blanket can save your plants.
That said, you also can try placing empty cardboard boxes over your plants. Unless your dog will lay on them, as well!
Greengirls Connie Nelson, Robyn Dochterman and Jaime Chismar are dishin' the dirt from the backyard garden and beyond. Whether you're a greenthumb or greenhorn, they're eager to learn from your misshaps, mistakes -- and most importantly, your sweet successes -- all growing season long.
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