The days are shorter, the air is crisper, and the threat of snow is ever-looming on the horizon. Native plants are programmed to adapt to the changing of seasons, and now is the time that our woody species prepare for their long nap. At Prairie Restorations, we are now helping our trees and shrubs along by giving them a cozy place to rest for the winter. Read on to hear how we over-winter our trees and shrubs, ensuring a healthy abundance of new growth in the following spring.
During fall and leading up to the first frost, our woody species experts start prepping for putting our supply of trees and shrubs to sleep. Our tree and shrub managers wait until that first frost to nip the plants, then they watch the deciduous species drop their leaves. Once the leaves have fallen and we are past our first frost, it is time to lay the pots down for the winter.
The first step is creating a space to lay down hundreds and hundreds of pots. A large area is cleared in our tree pen (which is covered in landscape fabric), then removed of leaf litter which can harbor disease. Once a space is established, our team will give the trees and shrubs one last deep watering then start laying down the pots on their sides in wide rows, eventually stacking them on top of each other. Giving them one last watering and stacking them in piles ensures they stay moist over the winter, avoiding death and root health issues in the following year.
Once all the woody species have been laid down, the next step is to get them insulated. Clear plastic is drug over the top of the pile, then a layer of hay, then another layer of plastic on top. The double layers of plastic along with the hay give a great insulated space to spend all of winter. The insulation gives a sort of greenhouse effect, protecting the plants from frost crack and moisture loss.
It takes a lot of man-power to move thousands of trees and shrubs for the winter, but in doing so, we are providing the best quality product the following year. Once spring comes again, we will be happy to see new buds forming as we pull them from their winter slumber.
