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Standard roses may be protected by laying them on the ground andtreating them as tender vines. This is the most satisfactory method.They may also be wrapped with straw and burlap, or boxed, with afilling of leaves within the box. The safest method in severe exposuresis that of burying them. Rhododendrons—Winter Protection of. Rhododendrons, otherbroad-leaved evergreens and, to a certain extent, all other ever-greens, are apt to be scalded in winter by the morning sun shiningthrough the coating of ice or snow upon the leaves, unless they are shielded. They should be mulched also during both winter andsummer. The mulching of rhododendrons for summer is done for thepurpose of providing a thin layer of leaf mold which will produce asnearly as possible the natural conditions of the undisturbed soil in thewoods and fields where rhododendrons grow. Mulching for winterprotection is effected by banking the plants with a deep layer of leaves.These leaves prevent excessive freezing and possible heaving ofthe soil around the roots. Rhododendrons are further protectedby building a screen of evergreen boughs or of cornstalks entirelyaround the plantation, but especially on the exposed side. A portionof the leaves used in the winter mulch can be left when the mulch isremoved in the spring. Under no conditions should an attempt bemade to spade this mulch of leaves into the ground in the spring.It may be loosened slightly with a fork, but because this plant has itsroots so near the surface the ground around the roots, below the naturalsurface, should not be disturbed. |
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