On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 08:08:57 +0000 (UTC), Jeanne Stockdale
wrote:

We moved to our present house some 2 years ago and from a garden the size of
a postage stamp to one which takes up about half an acre - . I am having a
wonderful time gardening but there is an awful lot I don't know.

My particular problem at the moment is what to do with all the perennials.
Last year I didn't cut the dead growth back until the spring - in the belief
that I was protecting the new shoots from winter frosts and snow. It does
mean however that the garden looks very untidy throughout the winter and I
realise that I am possibly providing ideal conditions for slugs to hide.

So when is the correct time to cut everything back?

When you think about it and have the time and energy to act on
your thoughts.

Generally speaking, the word "perennials" is preceded by the word
"hardy", so you can hack away with abandon during the fall and
let the hackings compost during the winter. *Some* perennials are
on the tender side and need a degree of protection, but I think
that's better done with a mulch of dry leaves, say, than their
own top growth.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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