4 Tips for Winterizing your Shrubs

4 Tips for Winterizing your Shrubs

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4 Tips For Winterizing Your Shrubs

Preparing Your Shrubs For Winter May Be Easier Than You Think!

Illustration of a women putting a hat and scarf on a shrub while it is snowing

It’s that time of the year again. It’s the time where you have to think about how to care for your shrubs for winter. But fret not, as it is not as complicated as you may think; the answer may be a simple as doing nothing!

Doing nothing may be the best thing for your shrubs this winter, that is, if you planted the best shrubs for your climate in the first place. If you selected a suitable plant for your USDA growing zone (don’t know your zone, find out here), then your plant should be plenty hardy enough to survive winter on its own. Still, if you’re looking for your shrubs to thrive and not just survive winter, we have curated four easy tips to help you winterize your shrubs.

Our Tips For Preparing Your Shrubs For Winter

Icon of a watering can pouring water

1. Ensuring Your Shrubs Get Enough Water

There’s nothing worse than waking up thirsty. Protect your plants from that fate by ensuring they get adequate water before they go to bed for winter. Many climates get an ample amount of rain in fall, so watering your shrub may not be necessary. But if it has been dry, watering before the ground freezes is recommended.
icon of a shovel that is stuck in a pile of mulch

2. Provide Your Shrubs With A Layer Of Mulch

Like a blanket for your plants, apply a 2-3″ layer of shredded bark mulch around the roots of your plant. This helps your plant stay warm by providing insulation, and it also helps maintain adequate moisture levels.

Icon of a deer

3. Shield Your Plants From Pests

Deer and rabbits love using your plants as an easy snack. Protect your shrubs from damage by creating a physical barrier such as deer netting, wire mesh (chicken wire), or burlap. Another trick to try is applying liquid repellent to your plants. But note that liquid repellents likely need to be applied multiple times throughout the season to keep it effective.
Icon of open pruning sheers

4. Put A Pause On Pruning Until Spring

If you’re in a cold climate, shrub pruning is best left for spring. Protect the lowest buds on your plant by keeping your plant intact this season. Also, waiting till spring to prune allows you to understand better where your plant needs trimming, based on where the new buds have emerged.
With fall in full swing and winter on its way, there is already plenty to do in the garden (my yard is already full of leaves begging to be raked), but prepping your shrubs for winter may be something you don’t have to add to your list! If you choose the right plants for your area, you won’t have much to worry about at the end of the day. But it never hurts to follow these steps to ensure your shrubs stay extra cozy this winter.

Written by: Miranda Niemiec, click here to read bio.

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