Re: Hydrangea [Winter Plant Protection]

Responding to Kemberley's posting about winter protection for plants that may
not be zone hardy, or may be somewhat fragile this fall:

There was a discussion on Aroid-L in August and September about "rose cones"
and/or "winter protection".  For some reason, I am unable to access the
archives just now, but the URL is:

http://www.aroid.org/links/index.html#Aroid Listserver Archives

[Mallorn Computing maintains these archives, together with many, many more.]

I posted a message about how I use rose cones to grow Zone 7 plants [e.g.,
Arisaema kiushianum, Helleborus x sternii, Helleborus argutifolius] and you
can look for that in the archives.

"Rose Cones" (also called "Plant Protectors) are readily available in
Michigan at Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and many other places selling garden
supplies.  They are made from Styrofoam and are placed over plants in the
winter to protect them from wind burn and excess cold.  I typically also
bunch shredded (not chipped) wood shavings loosely around the plants inside
the cones to increase the insulation.  (Plastic grocery bags filled loosely
with Styrofoam peanuts could accomplish the same thing.)  I usually put a
heavy stone on top to keep the raccoons from knocking them over.

[There is also an excellent article in Fine Gardening, December 1999 issue
about other methods of plant protection and extending the zone.]

This winter, I will build a Styrofoam cover for a large grouping of
Helleborus that has gotten too large for the cones.  Using 3" Styrofoam
insulation from home construction, I'll make a rectangular box wide, long and
high enough to cover the plants.  I'll also make sure I tuck some straw in
around the bottom edges to keep the wind out.

Last year I had only 5 cones, and thus 5 of 6 H. argutifolius (a Zone 7
plant) were covered.  The remaining plant died back to the ground, and by
this September, was about 6 cm tall. (So I'm back to where I started last
fall.)  But the remaining plants are almost a meter tall, and thriving.  So I
know this works.  I've also successful overwintered Lemon verbena and
Pineapple sage (of the mint family) (both Zone 7 plants) in this way.

I made the following posting to Aroid-L on 9/13/99:

Having checked with the local Home Depot garden center, I've learned the
following that may help any of those who wish to try these:

The large size of "rose cones" [labeled "Plant Protector"] costs $2.36/each

Home Depot's stock # is:  153647

Home Depot here usually will order in a stock item, even though the store
does not carry it.  Those who wish to try this, who have a Home Depot nearby,
may be able to obtain these.

I've also bought them at Ace Hardware.  Using the term "Plant Protector," you
may be able to have your local Ace order them if you have no Home Depot
nearby.

Jeanne Hannah

One of the members of Aroid-L wrote in response to my suggestions about how
to get access to the cones, which are not sold in regions of the US where
winter does not threaten the hardiness of roses:

[He wrote to recount his adventures in getting the rose cones, which he will
use to protect Zantedeschia. He's been leaving the tubers in anyway, but
wants more certain hardiness]:

Yes, I finally got rose cones.  Wait till you hear how!

You had sent me the Home Depot catalog number.  I went to the local Home
Depot and found that the item is not available to any Home Depot in the
northeast.  They (here) order from the same supply distributor as Home Depot
in New England, NY, PA, NJ, MD, GA, KY.  And with that, I ran out of places I
might get to or might have a friend.  On a lark, they called Home Depot in
Minnesota and found the item.  They asked that store for the name of the
distributor.  They even gave me an 800s number.

I called the distributor and found that Ace Hardware also distributes the
item.  I contacted the local Ace Hardware.  They had never heard of it.  When
I gave them the item number, though, they were able to find it in their
catalog.  I pointed out that if they were to order some, they'd be the only
place in all of Long Island that stocked the item.  Furthermore, I purchased
a case of each size.

So now I have Rose Cones and now they've been introduced to this community.
(Now to see if people purchase them and it becomes a regularly seen item.)

I have to thank you for the help in getting them.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Jeanne M. Hannah
Traverse City, Michigan
USDA Zone 5b [enjoying our unique microclimate as we live on the eastern
shore of Lake Michigan]

Member of International Aroid Society [Aroid-L]; Arisaema Enthusiasts Group
[Arisaema-L]; NARGS; Trillium-L; shadegardens; American Orchid Society
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