Page 8 - Griffin Gazette - October November 2024

Another consideration in overwintering is that maximum hardiness is only achieved
by acclimation of the plant to shorter days and gradually lower temperatures.
During acclimation, changes in the cellular structure allow water flow that
prevents cell breakage with freezing. Without acclimation, early freezes can be
very damaging, even lethal. To aid in acclimation, fertilization should be stopped
or scheduled to run out when temperatures start to cool, about mid-September
in much of the south and earlier in the northern production locations. Pruning
should also end about six weeks before the cold moves in. A fungicide drench
is typically recommended for plants during acclimation to prevent root rots (or
crown molding in perennials), especially for plants that will be pushed together
and covered for winter.

Once containerized plants are dormant, the dead foliage should be cleaned up
and moved out of the holding area. Options for holding plants will depend on the
hardiness, but include storage in unheated frames, houses heated just above the
critical temperature, or consolidated and covered with winter cloth in a structure,
outdoors, or in an in-ground pit. The goal of all these methods is to maintain the
temperature as evenly and low as possible to maintain dormancy. Dormancy is
more easily reversed than it is gained by plants. This makes it important to vent
the holding area if it warms above 40°F during winter days to prevent premature
growth. That is a relatively easy task in an unheated frame or in a greenhouse,but
should also be planned for when plants are covered. Without cover, plants in a
frame or a miminally heated greenhouse will need irrigated on occasion to prevent
desiccation.

From trees to herbaceous perennials, taking these steps to protect a hardy crop
over the winter leads to maximum profitability through minimal losses or damage.
As a crop advisor I have a vested interest in successful overwintering of plants.
As a plant lover, I also have a vested interest in sharing my love of beautiful,
colorful plants – right now, that is anything that will brighten up my brown and grey
landscape and is not a blanket of white.

As a Griffin customer, we encourage you to reach out to the GGSPro team for
questions and solutions at ggsprotech@griffinmail.com.

8 | GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2024 Stems of Ilex BERRY HEAVY® Gold cut for decorating.