Winterizing Your Garden with Burlap Materials
As the colder months approach, it's essential to take steps to safeguard your garden plants from the harsh winter conditions. One effective method to achieve this is by using burlap fabric. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to prepare your garden for winter using burlap fabric.
Identify Plants to Protect
Focus on vulnerable or tender plants such as young trees, evergreens, shrubs, and perennials that are sensitive to cold, wind, and frost damage. Newly planted or transplanted plants also benefit from burlap protection.
Timing
Begin burlapping in the fall, ideally before the first hard frost but after plants have started to harden off (entered dormancy). This timing maximizes protection without trapping moisture excessively.
Prepare the Plants
- Water deeply a few days before burlapping to ensure good soil moisture, which helps plants survive winter stress.
- Prune dead or damaged branches if necessary, but avoid heavy pruning in the fall to prevent stimulating new vulnerable growth.
Wrap with Burlap
- Use breathable burlap fabric to allow air circulation and avoid suffocation of the plant.
- For trees: Wrap around the trunk and lower branches, securing burlap with string or twine to shield from wind, frost, and pests like deer or rodents. Avoid wrapping too tightly to prevent damage.
- For shrubs and perennials: Construct a frame or tent structure using stakes, then wrap the burlap around the frame to create a wind barrier and insulation layer.
Add Mulch
Apply 2–4 inches of organic mulch (straw, shredded bark, pine needles) around the base of the plants to insulate roots and crowns but keep mulch a few inches away from stems to prevent moisture problems.
Additional Protection
- For container plants, wrap pots with insulating materials (burlap, bubble wrap) or move them indoors/better sheltered locations.
Commonly Covered Plants
- Young or tender evergreen trees (e.g., spruces, pines)
- Shrubs vulnerable to winter burn (e.g., boxwoods, rhododendrons)
- Newly planted shrubs and trees
- Perennials that are not fully hardy or exposed to harsh winds
Summary
| Step | Details | Notes | |--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Timing | Before first hard frost, after dormancy starts | Prevent frost damage | | Watering | Deeply water plants before burlapping | Keeps roots hydrated | | Wrapping | Use breathable burlap, secure but not tight | Allows air/moisture exchange | | Plants to cover | Young evergreens, shrubs, perennials | Focus on vulnerable/tender | | Mulching | 2–4 inches organic mulch around roots | Keep mulch away from stems | | Container plants | Wrap or relocate indoors | Prevent freezing damage |
By following these steps, you can protect your plants from cold, wind, frost, and pests while maintaining breathability to avoid damage during winter. Covering plants with burlap can shield them from harsh winds, prevent rapid temperature fluctuations, and create a layer of insulation that traps heat close to the plant. Additionally, it can protect plants from pests and diseases that may thrive in colder temperatures.
When covering larger plants or multiple plants with burlap fabric, consider creating ventilation holes to allow air and moisture to circulate. Remember to use a breathable material that allows air and moisture to circulate, and to securely anchor the fabric to the ground or tie it around the plant to prevent it from blowing away in strong winds.
Burlap fabric is an eco-friendly alternative to landscape fabric, made from natural materials rather than plastic. With these tips in mind, you can ensure your garden thrives throughout the winter months.
[1] Gardening Know How [2] The Spruce [3] The Old Farmer's Almanac [4] Garden Myths [5] Gardening Tips
- To maintain a thriving garden during the winter, focus on protecting home-and-garden plants that are sensitive to cold, wind, and frost, such as evergreens, shrubs, and perennials.
- By using burlap fabric for wrapping, you can create ventilation holes, allow air circulation, and securely anchor the fabric to shelter plants from harsh winter conditions, providing essential lifestyle protection.
