How to preserve chrysanthemums in winter and rules for sheltering in open ground

Many flower growers are interested in the pressing question of how to preserve chrysanthemums in winter. Today there are many ways to protect crops from frost. To choose the optimal method, you need to take into account the plant variety and the climatic characteristics of the region. There are quite a few hardy flower species that can survive the winter in open ground. Heat-loving plants must be dug up for the winter.

Features of care in autumn and preparation for wintering

Proper preparation of garden crops for winter is an important procedure. Chrysanthemum needs to provide a supply of useful elements for the entire rest period. To prepare a perennial flower for frost, you should do the following:

• inspect and remove old stems and remaining leaves;
• trim the bushes - usually the stumps are made about 15 centimeters high;
• clean the area in the flower growing area - this helps get rid of pests;
• treat the bushes with special preparations;
• apply fertilizers;
• perform pre-winter watering.

Pruning and fertilizing

To prepare the crop for winter, complex preparations should be applied to each bush in August or September. They must contain phosphorus and potassium. These elements contribute to the accumulation of nutrients by crops for the winter.

When stable frosts occur, chrysanthemums should be pruned. It is recommended to do this as late as possible. Thanks to this, beneficial substances will reach the roots. Weakened, old and rotten shoots must be removed. Powerful branches are shortened by 10-15 centimeters. It is not recommended to touch young shoots.

How to dig properly

If you need to dig up a plant, you should do it as carefully as possible so as not to damage the roots. If the rules of manipulation are violated, there is a risk of developing diseases and killing the crop.

To avoid this, it is recommended to follow these cleaning rules:

1. It is worth digging up chrysanthemums in late autumn.
2. The excavation site should be moistened with water. This will help avoid damage to the roots.
3. Don't shake off the ground. It is important to keep the lump in its original form.
4. Leave the plant to dry in the fresh air for 2 days.
5. If there is damage or presence of pests, you should immediately clean it and treat the affected areas with special preparations.

Winter storage rules

It is permissible to store culture using different methods. It is worth choosing a specific method individually, taking into account climatic conditions.

In the trench

This method is suitable for regions where the soil does not freeze deeply and is covered with a good layer of snow. The depth of the trench should be from 0.5 to 1 meter. To do this, you need to dig a narrow hole.

It is recommended to fold the bushes as tightly as possible. If there are a large number of plants, they are laid in 2 layers. The remaining space is filled with loose soil, sawdust, and dry leaves. It is important that the inside is dry, since moisture is harmful to chrysanthemums. It is worth placing spruce branches, boards or slate on top. Then they stretch the film and put leaves, soil or pine needles.

In the cellar on the floor

To preserve chrysanthemums, it is recommended to choose the right room. It must meet the following criteria:

• constant low temperature – from 0 to +4 degrees;
• good humidity;
• full ventilation;
• absence of fungal microorganisms, harmful insects, mold.

Chrysanthemum rhizomes are placed on the floor of the cellar or placed in a special box. It is recommended to pour 5-7 centimeters of soil into it. The bushes should be folded as tightly as possible and sprinkled with substrate.

During the winter, rhizomes should be inspected once a month. If they seem dry or lethargic, irrigate with water.When mold appears, infected plants are removed from the cellar, and the rest are treated with anti-fungal agents.

In a container

For plants use boxes or buckets. In this way, it is recommended to store the crop on an insulated balcony, in a barn or basement. It is important that the temperature is within 0...+5 degrees. The selected container should be filled with prepared soil. It is best to mix peat and coarse sand in equal parts.

In the greenhouse

Chrysanthemums are also perfectly stored in a greenhouse. To do this, flowering bushes should be transplanted there in advance. This helps to increase the flowering period of crops. In case of constant negative temperatures and freezing of the stems of the plant, it is worth pruning. As a result, it is recommended to leave the stumps no more than 2-3 centimeters. The top of the bushes should be covered with humus.

So that the plants can survive the winter, each bush should be sprinkled with dry soil. Its height should be at least 20-25 centimeters. It is important that the soil is completely dry, since moisture in winter is harmful to chrysanthemums. Then it is recommended to insulate the plantings with any covering material.

In a flowerpot

To store a chrysanthemum in a pot, carefully dig it up. The flowerpot should be wide enough. It is worth laying a layer of drainage at the bottom. Gravel, crushed brick or expanded clay are suitable for this purpose. Then it is recommended to place the plant in a container and fill it with light and loose substrate.

When the crop fades, it is cut off, after which the plant is transferred to a dark and cool place. It is best to use a basement or cellar. In spring the flowers will begin to grow. When warm weather arrives, they are planted in the soil.

What varieties need to be dug up?

Zoned plant varieties overwinter well in the flower bed. However, there are crops that are definitely recommended to be dug up.These include gift bushes and Indian plants that were rooted from bouquets.

The most common heat-loving varieties include the following:

• Nimbo;
• Talaxi;
• Sudis;
• Dramatic;
• Alyonushka.

Varieties that can survive winter in the garden

There are many varieties that can survive winter in different regions - in the Urals, in the Middle Zone, Siberia and the Moscow region. It is not recommended to dig them up, but they should definitely be covered.

Oak

This is a popular plant that can survive winter even in Siberia. To achieve good results, the crop should be pruned. As a result, stumps of approximately 15 centimeters should remain. To cover the plant for the winter, use sawdust, foliage, and spruce branches. It is important that the layer is not too dense.

Korean

This is a beautiful plant that was bred by Korean breeders. After flowering is completed, the crop should be cut to the very root. This plant tolerates winter well. It is important to consider that it can grow in one place for a maximum of 3 years. Then the bush should be dug up and divided. It is recommended to remove the central part.

Chamomile

This crop also needs to be prepared for winter. It is recommended to trim the bushes at the root. Then hilling is carried out and the plants are generously sprinkled with leaves. If severe frosts are expected, it is recommended to dig up the root with a ball of earth. It should be placed in a container and sprinkled with damp soil. Store in the basement.

Purple Haze

This is one of the most beautiful types of chrysanthemums. It has a standard height of 60 centimeters. The plant is characterized by beautiful double flowers with a diameter of 6.5 centimeters. The culture is growing and developing rapidly. It is characterized by high resistance to winter frosts.

Malchish-Kibalchish

This plant of Korean selection is a low bush that is covered with simple flowers. In appearance they resemble a chamomile and have a diameter of 7 centimeters. For the winter, it is recommended to cover the crop with leaves, branches or spruce branches. The plant is also sprinkled with earth or peat. The layer should be 20 centimeters.

Red Moscow

This is a Korean variety, the bushes of which are 75 centimeters. The plant has beautiful dark red flowers that have a crimson tint. The diameter of each flower is 7 centimeters. In order for this chrysanthemum variety to survive the winter, it is recommended to cover it.

Everest

This is an unpretentious plant that has large flowers. It is characterized by high frost resistance parameters. A distinctive feature of the plant is its long underground shoots.

How to properly cover for the winter in open ground

In order for the plant to withstand frost normally, it is recommended to cover it properly. There are several ways to do this.

Increasing the mulch layer

This method can be used to prepare varieties for winter that are highly resistant to frost. With the first frost, the bushes should be hilled. For this, sawdust, peat, and shavings are used. You can also use humus or compost.

In frosty winters, it is recommended to additionally cover the plant with branches or spruce branches. Sprinkle dry leaves on top.

Above ground storage

In order for the plant to overwinter, it is not recommended to cut it low. The trunks should be pulled together, carefully bent for winter and covered with any suitable material. It is important that the covering layer does not get wet. It is best to use film for this.

Dome storage

This is the most effective method to prepare chrysanthemums for severe frosts. Separately located bushes are insulated with individual structures. They can be covered with bricks, with boards, slate or plywood placed on top, and then sprinkled with a layer of earth on the plants.

When snow falls, it is recommended to throw it over the shelter. This will help create an additional thermal insulation layer.

If the plants are planted in a row, it is better to use a tunnel structure. Arcs should be installed at certain intervals. It is recommended to tie long slats to them. Any elastic material is pulled over the frame from above.

Features of the preservation of some varieties

There are specific varieties of chrysanthemums, which have certain characteristics.

Globular

These varieties were developed relatively recently. In the south, it is enough to cover them with spruce branches or straw. In colder areas, it is recommended to dig up chrysanthemums for the winter. Plants should be dried, cleared of soil and removed from dry shoots. Then place the bushes in containers with straw and put them in a dark and cool place.

Dwarf

Such plants are usually grown at home. However, sometimes they are planted in open ground. Before winter, it is recommended to trim them, leaving stems of a maximum of 10 centimeters. After which the plant is transferred to a bright room with a temperature of +8 degrees. It is recommended to water the crop every month.

Royal

After the first autumn frosts, chrysanthemums should be pruned. This can be done high or low. Royal plants are resistant to frost, so they can be left in the ground. However, in any case, it is recommended to cover them with spruce branches.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes gardeners make include the following:

• there is no timely feeding;
• heat-loving plants are not dug up before winter;
• Perennials that overwinter in open soil are not covered correctly.

Useful tips

To preserve the plant for the winter, you should follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners:

1. There is no clear time to begin work on preparing chrysanthemums for winter. Therefore, it is worth taking into account climatic features. It is worth starting the required manipulations with the arrival of the first frosts. Moreover, experts advise waiting a few days for the flowers to harden. This will help them survive the winter better.
2. It is not recommended to cover crops with weeds, straw and plant debris. This is the environment in which garden pests live. If you use such materials for insulation, the chrysanthemum will be seriously damaged by spring.
3. During storage of the crop, it is recommended to maintain a stable microclimate. Sharp fluctuations in humidity and temperature parameters will lead to the death of the flower. Such a plant simply will not survive the winter.

Preserving chrysanthemums for the winter is not so difficult. There are many methods that can solve this problem.

To choose the most suitable one, it is worth taking into account the plant variety and the climatic characteristics of the region.