1. Cover all wind-sensitive evergreens with two layers of burlap and secure in place with garden twine. Shrubs such as yews, dwarf Alberta (white) spruce, rhododendrons and azaleas need this protection to prevent the desiccation of tender stems and foliage from the extremely dry Canadian winter winds.
2. In parts of the country where snow cover is greater than just a few centimetres, mice and rabbit damage can he serious. Protect flowering shrubs and fruit trees (including flowering crab apples planted within the past five years) by covering the bottom one to 1-1/4 metres (three to four feet) of bark with a nontoxic organic solution such as Ropel, an excellent rodent repellent.
3. lnsulate your roses with topsoil. Mound the topsoil -- 20 to 25 centimetres (eight to 10 inches) high around the base of each rosebush. A plastic rose collar (about 40 centimetres/16 inches long and 15 centimetres/six inches high) that holds the soil in place will allow you mound it even higher to maximize the insulation value of the soil. In fall, only prune roses that are more than one metre (3-1/2 feet) tall. Cut these down to one metre to prevent the tall branchesfrom being broken by strong winter winds.
4. Fill your compost bin or build a compost pile using spent annual flower plants and vegetables and leaves. Layer the leaves 12 to 15 centimetres (five to six inches) thick, alternating with a 12- to 15-centimetre layer of green material (plants, grass clippings or kitchen waste).
5. ln areas where snow accumulations are greater than 60 centimetres (two feet), protect permanent foundation evergreens up to 1.5 metres (five feet) tall from snow damage by constructing a plywood teepee over each plant. For easy storage, hinge the teepee at the top.
Get more tips for fall gardening at canadiangardening.com.
