How to cover rosemary for the winter: do I need to dig and cut

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

How rosemary winters

For an evergreen shrub, 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 he feels comfortable when:

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

But the main condition is the ambient temperature. In some regions, it is greatly reduced during the winter, which is dangerous for rosemary. Shrub that winters outdoors 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. In order for rosemary to successfully overwinter, it is necessary to take a number of measures to prepare it for wintering.

Which varieties are easier to tolerate wintering

One of the common types of rosemary is medicinal and prostrate.It is the latter species that serves as a decoration for gardens. He likes to be planted as a hedge. Growing, the bush fills the entire space. It turns out a low, 0.5 meter fence made of fragrant grass dotted with small blue flowers.

From the varieties of the prostrate species, it is better to choose lavender or creeping. Medicinal, or ordinary rosemary has other growth characteristics. It is distinguished by erect shoots from 1 meter high and above, long narrow leaves. The bush is covered with flowers, purple, purple, white, in early spring. For medicinal purposes, use the leaves and tops of the shoots, using them as an infusion.

Essential oil derived from the perennial is good for the elderly and debilitated people.

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

Preparing rosemary for wintering

The onset of cold weather, freezing of the soil - this is the barrier that can destroy an ornamental bush.

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

For a plant, the close occurrence of groundwater is dangerous. The evergreen perennial will save good drainage, which will not allow the roots of the shrub to weaken, rot.
When flowering shoots grow for more than one year on the site, they need to be fed 1-2 times during the growing season. To do this, up to 2 kilograms of humus or compost are added per square meter. After top dressing, the soil is loosened to a depth of 5-10 centimeters.
Mineral fertilizers also make rosemary stronger before wintering. The complexes should contain potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. These elements will strengthen the plant's immunity, allow it to endure the cold period.
Pruning a bush during the active period of life will reduce the load on the plant, rejuvenate the crown. Cut branches will find a place in the kitchen. They are added to various dishes, drinks.
When the shrub is still young, and the winter is promised to be harsh, it is better to transplant the shoots into a pot and bring them into the room. The plant is well preserved at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.

Sturdy ornamental shrubs with strong immune systems can survive the winter and sprout new shoots in the spring.

Do I need to prune rosemary for the winter

Pruning rosemary is a must as it gives the shrub a noble shape. In addition, it is necessary to cut off those branches that are dry or damaged.

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

Before preparing the bush for wintering, cut rosemary is not worth it. 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 the shoots are removed. The risk of death of a bush treated with a pruner before wintering will increase several times.

Dig or cover: which method is better

Delicate ornamental culture can not stand even a slight drop in temperature. Therefore, in the fall, the gardener must determine what to do, how to reliably protect rosemary from the coming cold weather. And they do it not when the temperature has already dropped below 0 degrees.

In regions with warm and humid winters, rosemary bushes can be covered.For this, dry leaves, straw, sawdust are suitable.Before shelter, the bush is bent to the ground. If there are few shoots, then 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 a 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, placed in a cool, bright room. The perennial will survive the dormant period perfectly, 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 enough, then it is better to cover it with improvised means. But in areas with a cold climate, this method will not save rosemary from freezing. Therefore, growing in a container is the best option. Then in the spring they transfer the pot with the evergreen culture to fresh air in the garden, and in the fall they bring it into the basement.

Where can I transplant rosemary for the winter

Semi-shrub ornamental culture 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 lignify. 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, then the bush will die in any case, and no shelter will save it. It is urgent to prepare a warm room with optimal illumination. A container with a 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. You must not forget about the acidity of the soil. It is better to lime the ground so that rosemary successfully endures wintering.

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

Caring for rosemary in winter

Easy to care for medicinal perennial at home. Care activities include exercising:

watering to keep the potting soil from drying out;
one-time top dressing with organic or mineral fertilizers;
control air temperature no higher than 8-10 degrees heat and humidity at 75 percent;
draught-free fresh air intake.

Those rosemary bushes that remained in the garden or in the country should also be monitored in order to preserve a valuable culture.

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 a long winter. There must be enough nutrients in the soil to help the plant survive the difficult times.

With good shelter, it is necessary to check the condition of the bush on warm days of winter, to ventilate the plantings. The influx of fresh cool air will give the plant strength, save it from decay and fungal infections.

Outdoor

He who leaves a rosemary bush in the ground for the winter should provide him with warmth. In addition to sheltering with straw, spruce branches, dry leaves, you need to hide the plantings under the snow.Therefore, before planting a heat-loving crop, it is necessary to choose a site for the plant where snow accumulates more, it is not blown out by the winds. The snowdrift stays warm throughout the winter, helping to keep the rosemary from dying.

In the country

Summer residents, before growing heat-loving rosemary on the site, need to know the rules for caring for it, the conditions for its maintenance in the cold season. It is advisable to plant the plant in a pot to place it in October in the basement or on the veranda, providing enough light. Given the short duration of daylight hours in winter, you need to install fluorescent lamps in the room. By hanging them at a level of 30-40 centimeters from rosemary, they provide an opportunity for the plant to prepare for vegetation, flowering.

Watering the bush is rarely necessary, coming to the country 2-3 times a month. Rosemary almost does not need top dressing. If the care was correct during the active season, then the plant will have enough food 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 the shelter made of natural materials will allow the ornamental shrub to survive the cold and frost.