We've been flitting from warm to cold with no snow covering and that can only mean one thing - heaving. This is the ind of weather that kills my beautiful heuchera plants. The ground freezes and thaws and freezes again, squeezing and lifting the plant crowns out of the ground. I finally chopped up my Christmas tree and covered most of the heuchera plants with branches, while the ground was frozen. Winter mulching sounds like a crazy idea, but it really works. Now I can use the warmer days to start my pruning.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
My bearded iris often ‘heave’ out of the soil during winter.
It’s no big deal if the rhizomes do so as heck,a good part of them is above the soil to start with.That’s how they grow as you know.But often the roots that dangle beneath the rhizome get exposed and that’s not good.
As you say,winter mulching helps prevent this but I often forget to apply it.
Ok,truth?I get lazy and can’t be bothered.Because of my laziness and the crazy weather this year,my bearded iris roots are exposed.Yikes.I’m pressing them down,mounding soil and will add a mulch.Because of the mild weather it’s not too late.
I’m not sure it’s possible to kill bearded iris, but I’m sure you’ll give it a good try.
They like being on top of the soil and I’m probably guilty of taking them for granted. Mine stay evergreen all winter.