Is it necessary to cover Potentilla for the winter and how to do it without extra costs

Autumn preparation

How to prepare Potentilla for winter is a question that interests many gardeners. In the fall, you will need to carry out a number of activities that are aimed at strengthening the immunity of the plant. This will allow the flowers to endure the winter frosts well, and with the arrival of spring they will flourish.

Among the operations that are carried out in the autumn period, there are pruning, cleaning the soil under the plant and treatment for diseases:

1. Pruning Potentilla by autumn is not difficult. There are two types of pruning that are used during this period. The first is sanitary pruning. As flowering and wilting, dried leaves and inflorescences are removed. This helps to protect the plant from diseases and pests, and also allows it to accumulate strength for growing new shoots. The second type is a rejuvenating procedure. Each shoot is shortened by ⅓. This is done so that with the arrival of spring, the plant will release more new branches. If your cinquefoil is more than 7 years old, cut ⅓ of old shoots annually so that the bush renews itself faster.
2. Be sure to clear weeds and dead leaves from under the shrubbery. Pathogens and insects can hibernate there, which attack your flowers with the onset of heat. For the same purpose, the soil of the near-trunk zone is carefully loosened so that the insects appear on the surface and die with the onset of winter.
3. Treatment of diseases of Potentilla requires a lot of effort and time from summer residents, so it is better to take care of prevention in advance. With the arrival of autumn, the plant is treated with a solution of copper sulfate in order to protect the flowers from fungal diseases.

Video "Pruning Potentilla Bushes"

From this video you will learn how to properly prune Potentilla bushes.

What plants need to be covered

As mentioned earlier, Potentilla refers to frost-resistant flowers. They are grown even in the middle lane and in the north of the country, where the temperature in winter drops to the lowest rates. Despite this, the flowers are able to survive the frost and remain unharmed.

Let's talk about what types of Potentilla need shelter. So, the bushes that were planted in the autumn period of the current year need it. They have not yet gained strength and are not entrenched in the ground, so low temperatures can harm them. Annual plants are also sheltered, since they, like seedlings, have not sufficiently adapted to winter weather conditions. Some advise focusing on the color of flowers, and are sensitive to species that bloom with red or pink flowers. They will need an air-dry shelter.

Adult shrubs are not afraid of cold. They easily tolerate low temperatures, and can do without shelter during the cold season. But if you don't feel like taking the risk, you can at least throw snow at them to keep them warm for longer.

Materials and technology

Spruce branches or any type of agrofibre are used as covering materials. Basically, it doesn't matter which one you choose. Spunbond and agro-fabric do their job well. You can also use burlap to hide plants.

It is strictly forbidden to take plastic wrap. It does not let air into the shelter, which contributes to the appearance of condensation. This provokes the process of rotting of the root system, and with the arrival of spring you will get a rotten shrub.

Shelter technology is extremely simple. First you need to huddle the bush. Bare stems at the very base are covered and additionally insulated with a layer of humus or peat. This helps the plant's root system to keep warm and not freeze during severe frosts. After that, spruce branches are placed on the shrub to insulate it. Instead of spruce branches, you can use burlap or other covering material that retains heat well.

The main rule is to do everything on time. This operation should not be carried out too early or too late. In the first case, the flower can flutter under cover, and rot even before the onset of heat. In the second case, frost damage will damage the shrub, and even a shelter will not improve the situation.

In the middle lane (Moscow region) and in cold regions (Ural, Siberia, etc.), it is better to play it safe and cover the Potentilla as we indicated above. The frosts are strong there, so it's better not to risk it. But in the south, you can do without additional shelter.

Cinquefoil refers to frost-resistant plants, and since the temperature in winter is not too low, it will perfectly tolerate the cold.

So, we examined the preparatory procedures that are carried out with Potentilla with the onset of autumn. We also examined the features of sheltering a bush for the winter. Now you know what to do to preserve your garden until the new spring.