Kathy Dabb wrote:
I have several clematis growing in my garden, and I would like to know what i need to do to winterize these plants. I also have dahlia tubers, hibiscus, and miniature mums that all need to be taken care of to get ready for winter. I live in Ironwood, Michigan on the shore of Lake Superior.
If anyone has any advice, please respond in the comments.
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children
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Hi, Ironwood! We’re neighbors. I live in Ishpeming. I think you are probably zone 4, tho you are pretty close to the lake so that may make it 5. Clematis: I cut mine back to the ground and theycome up beautifully in the spring. Be sure you keep the roots cool next summer. Dahlia – have to dig the tubers and keep them over – put in peat moss and store them in a cool place (not freezing). Hibiscus: I don’t think these are hardy here. Either pot them up and keep them in a sunny window (you might need to cut them back)or ask at a nursery if you have one. If the dwarf mums are a hardy variety, they should be okay if you just cut them back. You have enough snow over there to cover them pretty well. You can also mulch them.
This is not to keep them warm; it is to keep them from thawing and freezing if the snow isn’t covering them. Nice to hear from someone else in Upper Michigan!