How to prepare rosemary for the winter: cover it, do you need to dig it up and prune it?

One of the most ornamental shrubs, with a persistent pleasant aroma of lavender, sea freshness and eucalyptus, rosemary is something everyone wants to have in the garden. But the peculiarity of the plant is its capriciousness in relation to climate. Without dry, hot summers and wet, cool winters, it is difficult for the plant to survive. For residents of temperate climates, you need to think about how to cover rosemary for the winter so that it does not freeze and die.

How does rosemary overwinter?

For an evergreen subshrub, air temperature and light play an important role in the growing season. It is necessary to grow a perennial taking into account the fact that it feels comfortable when:

• loose soil without excess moisture;
• the soil is slightly alkaline or neutral;
• water regularly, but moderately;
• the area is well lit and protected from the wind.

But the main condition is the ambient temperature. In some regions it decreases greatly during winter, which is dangerous for rosemary. A shrub wintering in open ground may freeze if measures are not taken to protect it.

When the plant is young, it can be brought indoors. But as the bush grows, this becomes more difficult to do. In order for rosemary to successfully overwinter, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to prepare it for wintering.

Which varieties tolerate wintering easier?

Some of the most common types of rosemary are medicinal and prostrate. It is the latter type that serves as decoration for gardens. They love to plant it as a hedge. Growing, the bush fills the entire space. The result is a low, 0.5 meter fence of fragrant grass dotted with small blue flowers.

Of the prostrate varieties, it is better to choose lavender or creeping. Medicinal or common rosemary has different growth characteristics. It is distinguished by erect shoots with a height of 1 meter and above, and long narrow leaves. The bush is covered with flowers, lilac, violet, white, in early spring. The leaves and tops of shoots are used for medicinal purposes, using them as an infusion.

The essential oil obtained from the perennial is beneficial for elderly and weakened people.

Among the varieties of ordinary rosemary, Rosinka and Tenderness are suitable for temperate climates.It is better to plant them in pre-prepared soil, loose, nutritious, either with seeds or cuttings. In order not to dig up bushes each time for the winter, they are planted in a pot or tub and brought indoors before the air temperature begins to drop.

Preparing rosemary for winter

The onset of cold weather and freezing of the soil is an obstacle that can destroy an ornamental bush.

In order for rosemary to withstand unfavorable living conditions, it must be prepared for them, starting in spring:

1. Close proximity to groundwater is dangerous for the plant. An evergreen perennial will be saved by good drainage, which will prevent the roots of the shrub from weakening and rotting.
2. When flowering shoots grow on the site for more than one year, they need to be fed 1-2 times during the growing season. To do this, add up to 2 kilograms of humus or compost per square meter. After fertilizing, the soil is loosened to a depth of 5-10 centimeters.
3. Mineral fertilizers also allow rosemary to strengthen before wintering. The complexes should contain potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. These elements will strengthen the plant’s immunity and allow it to withstand the cold period.
4. Pruning the bush during the active period of life will reduce the load on the plant and rejuvenate the crown. The cut branches have a place in the kitchen. They are added to various dishes and drinks.
5. When the bush is still young, and the winter is expected to be harsh, it is better to replant the shoots in a pot and bring them indoors. The plant is well preserved at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.

Strong ornamental bushes with a stable immune system can survive the winter and produce new shoots in the spring.

Should rosemary be pruned for the winter?

Rosemary pruning is mandatory, since thanks to it the bush takes on a noble shape. In addition, you need to cut off those branches that are dry or damaged.

It is better to prune shoots during the period of active growth of the perennial. This time falls in March-April. And twigs cut in spring can be used as a seasoning or medicine.

There is no need to prune rosemary before preparing the bush for winter. After all, the plant will need strength to endure a difficult period of life. Pruning will only weaken the plant; it will not be able to recover after removing the shoots. The risk of death of a bush treated with pruning shears before wintering will increase several times.

Dig or cover: which method is better?

The delicate ornamental crop cannot tolerate even a slight drop in temperature. Therefore, in the fall, the gardener must determine what to do, how to reliably protect rosemary from the oncoming cold. And they do this not when the temperature has already dropped below 0 degrees.

In regions with warm, wet winters, rosemary bushes can be covered. Dry leaves, straw, and sawdust are suitable for this. Before sheltering, the bush is bent to the ground. If there are few shoots, they are pinned with wooden pins. You can limit the growth area with boards or shields. Dry natural material is poured into them and covered with film on top. Such a shelter will save the plant from the influence of low temperatures.

If the rosemary bush is young and has not grown much, it can be transplanted into a pot, placing it in a cool, bright room. The perennial will survive the dormant period well, and in the spring it will be ready to bloom in the garden.

But not all bushes can be dug up. If the bush has grown sufficiently, then it is better to cover it with improvised means. But in areas with cold climates, this method will not save rosemary from freezing. Therefore, growing in a container is the best option.Then in the spring they move the pot with the evergreen crop into the fresh air in the garden, and in the fall they bring it into the basement.

Where can you transplant rosemary for the winter?

The semi-shrub ornamental crop grows well in open ground, increasing in size every year. Rosemary shoots can reach a height of about a meter or more. At the same time, the number of leaves increases, and the shoots begin to become lignified. In this case, it is difficult to transplant the plant to another place.

But when it is known that frosts will be within minus 10 degrees, the bush will die in any case, and no shelter will save it. It is urgent to prepare a warm room with optimal lighting. The container with the bush is transferred there and left for the winter.

Shoots dug out of the ground can be planted in a prepared container with nutritious and loose soil. It is necessary not to forget about the acidity of the soil. It is better to lime the soil so that rosemary survives the winter successfully.

After transplanting, you need to let the plant get stronger by watering it regularly. You should not keep a garden plant in the room. The ideal option for it would be a balcony, loggia or veranda. There will be plenty of light, and the air temperature will not drop below 5 degrees Celsius. Here the fragrant shoots will survive the winter and gain strength for the subsequent growing season.

Caring for rosemary in winter

It's easy to care for medicinal perennials at home. Care activities include:

• watering to prevent the soil in the pot from drying out;
• one-time fertilizing with organic or mineral fertilizers;
• control of air temperature not higher than 8-10 degrees Celsius and humidity at 75 percent;
• fresh air flow with protection from drafts.

Those rosemary bushes that remain in the garden or country house must also be looked after in order to preserve the valuable crop.

In the garden

To protect rosemary grown in the garden, it must be carefully prepared for wintering. In addition to reliable shelter, the shrub needs loose soil so that there is enough moisture and air for the long winter. The soil must have enough nutrients to help the plant survive difficult times.

If there is good shelter, it is necessary to check the condition of the bushes and ventilate the plantings on warm days of winter. An influx of fresh cool air will give the plant strength and save it from rotting and fungal infections.

In the open ground

Anyone who leaves a rosemary bush in the ground for the winter must provide it with warmth. In addition to covering with straw, spruce branches, and dry leaves, you need to hide the plantings under the snow. Therefore, before planting a heat-loving crop, you need to choose a site for the plant where more snow accumulates and is not blown away by the winds. The snowdrift retains heat throughout the winter, which helps prevent rosemary from dying.

In the country

Before growing heat-loving rosemary on a plot, summer residents need to know the rules for caring for it and the conditions for keeping it during the cold season. It is advisable to plant the plant in a pot to place it in the basement or on the veranda in October, providing enough light. Given the short duration of daylight in winter, it is necessary to install fluorescent lamps in the room. By hanging them at a level of 30-40 centimeters from the rosemary, they provide the plant with the opportunity to prepare for the growing season and flowering.

It is necessary to water the bush rarely, coming to the dacha 2-3 times a month. Rosemary almost does not need fertilizing.If care was correct during the active season, then the plant will have enough nutrition for the entire winter.

You can leave perennials in the ground for the winter if the cottage is located in an area with a temperate climate.. Then a shelter made of natural materials will allow the ornamental shrub to calmly survive the cold and frost.