In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to winterize shrubs.
Steps:
1 Water shrubs throughout the fall and up until the ground freezes.
2 Spread 4 inches of bark mulch or ground-up leaves around base of shrub to insulate the ground.
3 Create a wind barrier by driving wooden stakes into ground around the shrub, then wrapping burlap around the stakes; staple burlap to the stakes.
4 Spray an anti-desiccant onto the shrub's leaves -top and bottom to prevent them from drying out.
5 Start applying the anti-desiccant in November, and repeat once a month throughout the winter; don't spray anti-desiccant when temperatures dip below 40 degrees.
6 For a large number of shrubs, apply the anti-desiccant using a garden pump sprayer.
7 To protect shrubs from snow damage, tie up branches with jute twine.
8 For new plantings, wrap the shrub in burlap and tie with twine for protection from both wind and snow.
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