Winter is coming - how to you prepare?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Black Dog, Oct 27, 2021.

  1. Black Dog

    Black Dog Gardener of useful things

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    I mostly leave them in the ground. As much as I love some plants, I prefer to let them be and see if they make it. And if they don't I plant something a little hardier the next time.
    I also think plants get more beautiful if they remain in the soil.
     
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    • Macraignil

      Macraignil Super Gardener

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      The gardener across the road from here just puts a thick layer of used horse bedding over them each year and they are fine through winter and he has been doing that for a good while now. I think there was a piece about them on Gardeners World a while back and they said if they were planted deep enough then a good layer of mulch was sufficient to protect them over winter in most places. It did not work for the couple I tried to leave in the ground but the garden here is more on the north side of the hill and I could not plant them very deep as the soil was fairly thin where I planted them.

      Happy gardening!
       
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      • Tara Jane

        Tara Jane Gardener

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        Okay. Yes. They certainly seem very floriferous. They are quite sheltered though but I was really more worried about a gorgeous orange one I bought this year as it’s a bit more exposed. It is south facing though. I shall leave well alone. Thank you for your reply.
         
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        • Tara Jane

          Tara Jane Gardener

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          Ooh, thank you for that. I have horses so I can do that no probs!
           
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          • NigelJ

            NigelJ Total Gardener

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            @Tara Jane Leaving dahlias in the ground over winter. THe important thing is that the soil must not get waterlogged. I have dahlias in pots, mainly, that get dried off and stored in dry compost in a cold greenhouse. This is because of young shoots getting munched by slugs and snails. I have two dahlias in the ground, both are species dahlia one was left by accident last year and the other was deliberate about 4 years ago and yes they do grow better than the reserves kept in pots.
             
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            • Tara Jane

              Tara Jane Gardener

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              That great. thank you. we are very chalky but pretty fertile here so thats probably why they were ok. can I ask one other thing? do you cut the ones in the ground back? we have had a couple of frosts and they're starting to look bit withered. I was told to leave them for the bugs to sleep in and cut it back in the spring.
              thank you again!
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                I chop my dahlias down and leave in situ and cover with fabric.
                 
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                • Victoria

                  Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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                  I dread to think what some gardens look like with fabric, fleece. blankets, bubble wrao and all sorts covering the plants! :hate-shocked:
                   
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                  • Tara Jane

                    Tara Jane Gardener

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                    him an upholsterer so I can do that too!
                     
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                    • Tara Jane

                      Tara Jane Gardener

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                      *I'm. thanks to you too!
                       
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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        We never cover anything in the garden as there is much too much to do. Plants either survive or die :noidea:. Our dahlias have been in the ground for many years with no loss :fingers crossed: :)

                        Even with all the frosts in the last week our Cobaea are still blooming. :hapydancsmil:
                         
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                        • Nikolaos

                          Nikolaos Total Gardener

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                          Blimey, that suggests they're a fair bit hardier than most people think! :)

                          Nick
                           
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                          • Tara Jane

                            Tara Jane Gardener

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                            guess what I'm doing this weekend! these are my last pickings from the garden. this autumn has been spectacular. I'm really loving these gardening malarky! garden flowersjpeg.jpeg
                             

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                            • Nikolaos

                              Nikolaos Total Gardener

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                              Wow, well done @Tara Jane, some lovely colour combinations in that display, I particularly like the purple and orange! :blue thumb:

                              Nick
                               
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                              • shiney

                                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                                I'm going to pop out and take some photos. :blue thumb:
                                 
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