🌿 Overwintering Made Easy: Protecting Your Perennials, Roses, and Shrubs

Keep Your Garden Thriving Through New England Winters

As temperatures drop across Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, it’s time to tuck your garden in for the winter. Overwintering your perennials, roses, and shrubs ensures a strong comeback in spring — and it’s easier than you might think! At Redwood Nursery in Swansea, MA, we’ve got the expert tips, organic materials, and supplies to help you protect your plants from harsh winter winds and freezing temps.

🪴 Step 1: Mulch to Insulate Roots

Mulching is one of the most effective ways to protect your perennials and shrubs. After the first hard frost, add 2–3 inches of Espoma Organic mulch or Coast of Maine’s Dark Harbor Blend around the base of your plants. This keeps soil temperatures stable and reduces heaving caused by freeze–thaw cycles.

Pro Tip: Keep mulch a few inches away from the crown or stem to prevent rot.

🌹 Step 2: Prep Your Roses

Hybrid teas and other tender roses appreciate a little extra care.

Cut back long canes to about 12–18 inches.
Mound compost-rich soil from Coast of Maine around the base of the plant.
Once the ground begins to freeze, wrap the bush loosely in burlap to shield against drying winds.

For climbers, gently tie canes to a trellis or stake and wrap with burlap for protection.

🌿 Step 3: Shield Tender Shrubs

Evergreens like boxwood, azalea, and holly can lose moisture through their leaves during winter. To prevent winter burn:

Apply anti-desiccant spray (like Bonide Wilt Stop).
Use burlap screens or windbreaks for exposed areas.
Water deeply before the ground freezes to hydrate roots.

🧤 Step 4: Potted Perennials and Tender Plants

If you have container-grown perennials, move them into a sheltered area such as a garage or against a south-facing wall. Wrap pots in burlap or frost cloth for extra insulation.

🛒 Shop Winter Supplies at Redwood

You’ll find everything you need for winter prep — mulch, soil, burlap, and more — at Redwood Nursery & Garden Center.
👉 Explore our Redwood Direct online shop for hard-to-find plants.
📱 Download the Redwood Nursery App for exclusive savings and seasonal tips: https://apjl.app/redwoodnursery.

🌼 FAQ: Overwintering in Zones 6–7

Q: When should I start winterizing my garden?
A: Wait until after the first hard frost, when plants have gone dormant but before the ground freezes — usually late November in Southeastern MA.

Q: Should I cut back all perennials?
A: Not all! Leave ornamental grasses, seed heads, and native perennials standing to provide winter interest and food for pollinators.

Q: Can I use leaves instead of mulch?
A: Yes, shredded leaves make excellent mulch — just be sure they’re not matted down, so air and water can still reach the soil.

Q: How do I protect hydrangeas?
A: Wrap large-flowered varieties like Hydrangea macrophylla with burlap or a chicken-wire cage filled with leaves. Avoid pruning in fall to preserve next year’s buds.

🌍 Local Expertise You Can Trust

At Redwood Nursery, we’ve been helping local gardeners in Swansea, Fall River, and across Southeastern Massachusetts grow confidently for decades. Whether you’re prepping for winter or planning your next pollinator garden, our experts are here to help.

🌱 Quick Takeaway

Protecting your plants now means less work — and more blooms — come spring.
Stop by Redwood Nursery for burlap, mulch, soil, and expert advice, or shop select products online through Redwood Direct.

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