Many of our perennial garden flowers and plants have been selected for flower color, size and form rather than for ability to endure severe winter conditions. Therefore, winter protection becomes important to insure that certain plants will survive our North Georgia winters. Because of our continued very dry weather, plants are already under a great amount of stress. Cold damage could push some stressed plants over the limits of survival.

Plants that have been placed in sites not well adapted to their needs are also more susceptible to winter damage. Too much shade for some, too little shade for others, poor soil drainage or other environmental problems can lead to winter damage.

Knowing the restrictions of outdoor watering, what can homeowners do to help plants? Mulch around plants! Mulches provide the best protection for many perennial flowering plants. As soon as growth has ceased and temperatures are cold enough for slight soil freezing, mulches should be applied if they were not added earlier. Not all plants need coverings, and such durable perennial as peonies, iris and daylilies will survive without it. Nevertheless, it is still beneficial for moisture and weed control.

The main purpose of a winter covering on some perennial flowers or marginal woody plants is not to conserve warmth, but to prevent abrupt wide temperature fluctuations at the base of the plant and in the upper root zone. For smaller plants that may not yet be well established, an important function comes in late winter and early spring. During that time, unprotected ground alternately freezes and thaws. As it expands and contracts during this process, small plants may be heaved up so roots become exposed and dried out. These exposed plants are then killed or weakened greatly. This is very common on shallow rooted plants such as chrysanthemum, shasta daisy or bulbs such as crocus. This problem is most common in heavy clay soils which have not been improved with organic matter. It is generally not a problem in sandy soils.