Question
Hi Jeff and Jacob

I am planning on putting my temperate plants (zone 5 to zone 8) to bed for the winter and I have a couple of questions.

Last weekend I collected pine needles to use as mulch. My source is in a mixed environment so there are maple and oak leaves mixed in with the pine needles. I would guess that the mix is about 10% leaves, 90% pines needles.  Short of sitting there picking out the leaves one by one, I don't see an easy way of removing the leaves. Are the deciduous leaves a problem ? ( I will be spraying the bogs, burlap and mulch with a fungicide)

Besides my bogs, I have a quite a few potted temperate plants. I have two possible locations for them. There is an unheated insulated shed with a couple of windows, but because of the location the temperature inside would fluctuate from very low at night to well above freezing on sunny days. My other option would be an unheated cellar with very little light. This would have the advantage of a more constant temperature, but I would be concerned about mold. Which do you think is the better choice ?

Also should these plants be mulched or will be being one of the shelters I discribed be enough

90 miles north of NYC

Thanks
Nicole

Answer
Hi Nicole,

The leaves should be no problem at all.  We get lots of leaves in our pools during the fall and winter with no harm.

Based on your description I would vote for the cellar.  If the temperatures in there are in the 30's and 40's that is ideal.  Just be sure to spray the devil out of them with fungicide.  Keep them damp, but not super wet.  (This is all making the assumption that you've left them outside long enough for them to be fully dormant.)  Also be sure to clip off most of the foliage to keep mold from having a place to grow.  Even if it freezes sometimes in the cellar you don't need to mulch them since it is very sheltered.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com