Winter prep-The vegetation

So I posted a bit ago on things "to do" for winter prep around here and referenced that I would do one on the vegetation round here. Maybe you will find some of it useful. We are constantly looking for better ways of doing stuff. Lynn is a consummate reader and researcher and has picked up tips from numerous sources.

Fruits and vegetables
The rows in the enclosed vegetable garden have been covered in a delightful mix of straw and sheep droppings. Sounds scrumptious doesn't it? This serves as a mulch as well as a fertilizer. Typically, you fertilize in the fall in order for all of the poopy nutrients to seep in the ground.

The strawberries have been covered with the greens from downed fir trees in the woods. Lynn is using a tip from her favorite person"Tasha Tudor". The thought is that the branches will act as a buffer from the heavy snow as well as a mulch.

The blueberry area was covered with cardboard and pine needles. The board acts as a mulch and the needles act as a weed inhibitor as well as a provider of acidic nutrient. And blueberries loves them some acid.

The asparagus was cut back and covered with cardboard. Asparagus is not weed tolerant. Like super freaking anal about weeds. So this bed has to be kept clear of them at all times. Demanding little vegetables.That is about it for the food.

Flowers

The dahlia bulbs were dug up, separated, and stored in the basement inside paper bags. Dahlias are perennial by nature but in cold climates such as this one, require this process in order to survive.

The roses in the circle garden are surrounded by makeshift canisters made of netting filled with leaves. This is in an effort to protect the root ball from dying during the deep freezes. Other roses about the property were covered with fir greens, same as the strawberries.

Last but not least, our little trees are being covered in burlap, one by one. This helps them survive the ridiculous wind we get as well as other harsh winter weather.

That about sums it up.