WINTER PROTECTION AND MULCHING

Reasons for Winter Protection. Winter protection is necessaryunder the following conditions: First—When a plant is removed fromits natural habitat to one more severe; Second—When plants are notsufficiently hardy to withstand the new climatic conditions or ex-posures; Third—When it is desirable to retain ground moisture duringthe winter for planting on exposed places, mounds and banks. Fourth—When plants (especially evergreens) are transplanted into a stiff claysoil under climatic conditions where they will be subjected to consider-able freezing and thawing and it becomes necessary to protect themagainst heaving; Fifth—When plants, especially rhododendrons andother evergreens, must be protected against wind and sun which causeso much damage on account of excessive evaporation of moisture fromthe leaves at a time when no moisture is being taken into the plantthrough the root system. Continued, steady cold and a permanentcovering of snow are generally sufficient to tide a plant through theseverest part of winter, but an open winter, followed by severe cold,or the alternate freezing and thawing in spring, will work havoc.Mulching, therefore, is equally important, not only to control suddenchanges in temperature in extreme weather, but also to maintain a cool,even temperature in early spring.