Wintering Gunnera

My Manicata has done quite well in it's first year..3 foot leaves and around 5 feet height.
We're at that time of the year now and I need a bit of advice.I was planning to pack a foot of straw over the crown,staked to keep it in place, and leave the leaves to Mother nature....or would it be better if I cut the leaves back at the first frost?

 

I'm new to gunnera (well, bought a couple cheap a few weeks ago ) but, my understanding is, for winter protection, you use the leaves to cover the crown - by folding them over.

I'm sure someone with more experience will correct me if I'm wrong

 

I have read that after the first frost you can either bend the leaves back or cut them back to the crown and use them turned upside down and stacking them over the crown for protection. Or you can use mulch and straw. But do check before covering it that there are no signs of slugs or snails lurking.

 

mine had done carp this year, one new leaf and thats it!!

 

This year it would be a miracle if no slugs were knocking about.Don't know about you there are thousands round here.

 

I don't do anything with mine and it seems to survive fine (although when the leaves "collapse" I suppose they cover the crown - sort-of)

I have read (in "The Garden" sometime during the Summer IMMSMC) that covering the crown is counter productive as it encourages it to leaf earlier, and the emerging buds are what gets knocked over by late frost. Maybe cover for depth of winter and uncover in late Winter - end of February perhaps? to keep the crown cold so it doesn't sprout?

 

I have ducks (and chooks); no plague of slugs or snails.

 

Lucky you...I'd have chickens too but the cost of securing the garden would be too much.