Every winter, usually right about the time the ground is frozen solid and everything looks very… brown, we start getting the same question: What happens to all the plants during the winter? It’s a fair question. We love plants, but if we planted every end-of-season shrub and perennial in our own yard, we’d run out of space very quickly. So instead, winter becomes one of the most important seasons for plant care here at the nursery.
Lessons From a Tough Iowa Winter
Overwintering plants is a big behind-the-scenes operation, and this year it looked a little different than years past. In the past, we’d huddle plants together against an old building for protection. With that building no longer there, last winter we tried placing them along cinder blocks. Between limited snow cover and dramatic temperature swings from bitter cold to warm and back again, it didn’t go well. Above-ground roots don’t tolerate those conditions, and we lost most of those plants. We even saw winter kill on some established plants across the nursery.
After comparing notes with vendors, we learned that winters like that tend to show up about once every ten years and they weren’t spared either. While it’s never fun to lose plants, it pushed us to rethink our approach and do better going forward.
How We’re Protecting Plants Right Now
This winter, we changed things up entirely. Shrubs and perennials were moved to a different section of the nursery, laid down, covered with a tarp, layered with leaves, and then protected with another tarp. The goal is simple: better insulation, more consistent temperatures, and protection from those damaging freeze-thaw cycles.
Shade trees got their own winter strategy. We relocated them to a more sheltered area, grouped them closer together, piled mulch around the pots, and fenced the area in. Keeping roots insulated and reducing exposure makes all the difference when temperatures dip and bounce around as much as they do in an Iowa winter.
All of this took place on a cold Sunday, with kids happily climbing and playing on a nearby dirt pile while we worked. Muddy boots, cold hands, and a lot of teamwork. It’s not glamorous, but it’s one of the most important investments we make in the health of our plants.
So while things may look quiet around the nursery in January, there’s a lot happening beneath the tarps and mulch. Winter is a season of protection, patience, and planning, all so those plants are ready to thrive when spring returns. And trust us, we’re counting down the days right along with you.