Fall and Winter Tips
There are several reasons why you should not cut your perennials back in the winter. First, many of them are attractive to look at even after they have turned brown. Birds often will use the seed from flower heads to survive the winter. Some foliage from perennials also makes a nice cover for birds in the winter. Winter winds can be harsh and this can be much needed protection.
With some marginally hardy perennials such as Mums the foliage seems to protect the crowns of the plant. Some plants don't die back to the ground and cutting them will cut back next years growth if cut to short. Leaving foliage also allows you to find your plants in the spring. Some plants are late to come up, Butterfly Weed is one, and the foliage is a great indicator to prevent you from digging up or digging to close to the plant.
One reason to cut back foliage is if you have been having disease problems. Cutting back the foliage and destroying it, do not put it in the compost, may help in preventing the disease the following year or spreading it to other plants.
If you don't like the look and you feel the need to cut back your plants in the fall, wait till they are dormant, usually after several hard frosts.Cut the plant back to 2 to 3 inches from the ground to prevent damage to the crown.
Just remember to cut any foliage back in early spring before new growth starts on any plants that were not cut back in the fall.
Animal Chewing in Winter
Watch out for mouse or rabbit damage around trees and shrubs. This is the time when animal damage is at its highest. Food is scarce and animals will girdle the stems of many small trees and shrubs. Girdling, is eating the bark off the tree or shrub all the way around the plant. This causes the plant to not be able to transport nutrients from the roots to the top of the plant, thus killing the plant.
If its mice doing the damage, mouse baits may be placed out to help elimanate the problem. However put these where other non targeted animals will not get into them. A cat can help keep the mouse population in check also.
If its rabbits, wire to keep them away from the base of the tree can help or they make a hard plastic wrap that can go around the tree to help protect it. Works great to keep the weed whacker from hitting the trunk also.
Berry Producing Plants for Winter Interest
American Cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)
Berry: Red
Height: 10 to 12 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: This shrub bears clusters of white flowers in the spring. Some cultivars produce yellow berries. The European Cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus) has similar properties.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Berry: Red
Height: 20 to 25 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 5
Partial Sun
Notes: This evergreen tree bears small white flowers in the spring. It has many cultivars, such as “Xanthocarpa,” which bears golden-yellow berries.
Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
Berry: Bluish-Black
Height: 6 to10 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: This shrub bears clusters of dark berries that are very popular with birds and bears clusters of small white flowers in the spring.
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Berry: Dark Purple
Height: 4 to 6 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 4
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: The berries of the “Autumn Magic” cultivar last an especially long time into the winter. Although the Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) bears attractive red berries, it is considered invasive in many areas and should be avoided.
Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Berry: White
Height: 3 to 5 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Full Shade to Full Sun
Notes: This hardy shrub grows well in shade as well as sun and tolerates almost every soil type.
Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
Berry: Reddish-Purple
Height: 3 to 5 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Full Shade to Full Sun
Notes: Like Snowberry, this shrub likes shade as well as sun and is very easy to grow. It is also know as Indian Currant.
Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus)
Berry: Red
Height: 1 to 3 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 4
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: Great for ground cover, this shrub bears tiny pink flowers in the spring. Other low-growing cotoneasters include Bearberry Cotoneaster (C. dammeri) and Rockspray Cotoneaster (C. horizontalis).
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Berry: Powdery Periwinkle Blue
Height: 40 to 50 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Full Sun
Notes: The female trees bear these lovely berries (they are actually cones that look like berries) which are very popular with the birds.
Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
Berry: Pale Blue-Gray
Height: 4 to 10 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: This shrub is extremely hardy and easy to grow in most conditions. It is also salt tolerant.
Tea Viburnum (Viburnum setigerum)
Berry: Bright Red
Height: 8 to10 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 5
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: This shrub bears clusters of red berries in the fall and clusters of small white flowers in the spring.
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Berry: Red or Yellow
Height: 8 to 10 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 3
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: Birds love these berries, so there is a risk that the berries will all be eaten before the winter is over. If you love having birds in your garden, however, this will do the trick.
Winter King Hawthorne (Crataegus viridis)
Berry: Bright Red
Height: 20 to 30 ft. tall
Hardy to Zone 4
Partial to Full Sun
Notes: This tree bears clusters off white flowers in the spring. The Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) has similar properties to the Winter King.
