As winter approaches, it’s essential to prepare your garden for the cold months ahead. At Hinsdale Nurseries, all our plants are winter hardy for our area (zone 5), ensuring they can withstand the chilly temperatures. Following these simple guidelines will help plants remain healthy and vibrant through winter and thrive come spring.

Trees & Shrubs

• Evergreens:
  Keep your evergreens well-watered throughout the fall until the first hard frost. This will help prevent excessive needle dropping or browning during the winter months.
• Broadleaf Evergreens:
  Plants like rhododendron, holly, euonymus, and boxwood benefit from a late fall application of an anti-transpirant spray, such as WiltPruf. This spray helps reduce moisture loss from the foliage, keeping them healthy through winter.
• Deciduous Trees and Shrubs:
  Water and mulch your deciduous trees and shrubs before the ground freezes. This helps protect the roots over the winter and supports healthy spring growth. Apply shredded bark around the base of the roots, but avoid burying the trunk where it touches the soil to prevent rot.
• Arborvitae:
  Heavy snow and ice can damage arborvitae by breaking branches or packing snow around the base, which can burn the leaves. To avoid these issues, tie weaker branches to the trunk with rope (not wire). Additionally, consider placing a burlap screen about a foot away from the tree to protect it from snow pack and wind damage.

Perennials

• Watering:
  Water your perennials during a dry fall, but be cautious not to overwater. As perennials prepare for winter dormancy, they require less moisture.
• Cutting Back:
  Most perennials can be cut back to the ground in late fall to keep your garden looking neat and tidy. However, leave perennials that provide winter interest, such as ornamental grasses, until early spring when new growth begins to emerge.
• Pruning Woody Perennials:
  For woody perennials, like butterfly bush, wait until spring to prune them back by one-third as they start leafing out.
• Mulching:
  Apply at least 2 inches of mulch around the root area of most perennials. In early spring, pull back the mulch several inches from the base of the plants to prevent disease and rotting.

Shrub Roses

• Watering:
  Continue to water your shrub roses until the first hard frost to ensure they are hydrated before winter.
• Pruning:
  Avoid cutting back or pruning shrub roses in the fall. Wait until spring to perform any necessary maintenance.
• Mulching:
  Mulch around the base of your shrub roses to a depth of 2 to 4 inches, extending past the width of the plant. Just like with other perennials, be sure to pull back the mulch several inches from the base of the plants in early spring to help prevent disease and rotting.