February 1, 2014

You Can Laugh At Frigid Temps and Polar Vortexes – If You Follow This Plan

Cover tender plants with a sheet of 4 mil plastic.

Two polar vortex systems have passed into middle Tennessee in January 2014. So what? There will be dead plants apparent in a couple weeks? Why? They weren’t cold hardy, meaning they weren’t adapted to the cold climate in first place. Or… They were planted incorrectly. Or… They were dry. Why should this matter? Dry roots […]

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Filed Under: Winter Protection
January 16, 2014

How to Improve Cold Hardiness and Winter Protection for Landscape Plants

Imagine for a minute, you’re at a garden center… just browsing. It’s the middle of Spring and a confederate Jasmine vine catches your eye. The small yellow blooms are attractive and you instantly know the perfect spot for it at home. A garden center employee mentions to you “It grows like a weed, but might not […]

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Filed Under: Establishment and Care Advice, Expensive Mistakes, Right Plant In The Right Place, Winter Protection
January 10, 2014

How to Protect Tender and New Plants from Sub-Freezing Temperatures and Frigid Cold Wind

The bed sheet and plastic trap ground heat and act as a greenhouse.

  It’s not complicated. Just make a tiny greenhouse! Lock in the Moisture Start with a piece of burlap or sheet plastic. A square shape that isn’t too big and bulky is a plus. Wrap the plant tightly with clothes pins, string, or bungee cords. The tighter the better. If the plant roots are inside a […]

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Filed Under: Winter Protection