the years I was there I endured one year of -25 during december for a week (not
talking wind chill either). mulch earlier rather than later.
my mother uses straw hay mulch.
I am really getting into putting up simple temporary greenhouses over everything. I
have a koi pond that is 2.5 feet below ground, 1.5 feet above. I put a lean to over
the pond and run a bucket filter in there and the water does not freeze all winter.
it doesnt freeze because there is no evaporation of water, so all the heat coming
from the dirt into the water stays in the pond. Ingrid
"mmarteen" wrote:
I am technically in zone 4a, Minneapolis, MN USA but this winter has been
very odd. In fact, of the 7 winters I have endured in this fair city each
has been fairly unique. 3 winters had barely any snow. One was extremely
mild, temperature wise and the other two had at least 2 weeks of hideously
cold weather, with temps well below 0, and in the 20s and 30s below with
windchill, so very cold and very windy. I have been very lucky with the
perennials that I have planted and haven't really mulched them. I have a
nice hidcote lavender that has come back every year. I am less certain this
year because of the bitter temps with no snow cover. I'll use it as a test
case. I don't really grow any tender perennials, to keep maintenence low.
I am wondering what I should do for the future in my new garden (we are
moving this spring). Should I plan to mulch every year in Oct? Our coldest
weather generally doesn't show itself until January. Could I wait until
Dec. and mulch if the snow cover is too light or is this too risky? What do
other people do?
And what is the best bang for the buck on mulch for these conditions? I've
heard that leaves generates mold, as does straw/hay. Bark mulches are kind
of expensive if you use them extensively.
mm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.