| I have hibiscus, esperanzas, roses and sage that I planted in the ground. This is my first year working in a garden. How do I protect them in the winter so they dont die. |
| If you're growing tropical hibiscus, and if your area is subject to freezing temperatures, your Chinese hibiscus must either be treated as an annual and allowed to freeze or you need to protect it during cold weather. During mild winters, plants may freeze to the ground and then sprout from the base the following spring. Applying a loose mulch, such as pine straw or oak leaves, around the base of the plant before cold weather arrives sometimes prevents severe winter injury. Certain varieties are more susceptible to cold damage than others. If you're growing hardy hibiscus (sometimes called Rose of Sharon), nothing needs to be done - they are winter hardy. Esperanza and sage are cold hardy and no protection is needed. When spring arrives you need only to prune them back and lush new growth will emerge from the stems. Roses are reasonably cold hardy. After your first frost you can prune your roses back and then mound pine straw, oak leaves or other organic mulch over the base of the plant to protect the graft from freezing. Enjoy your garden! |
