As the days shorten and the air carries a crisp chill, we sense the profound change in the seasons. Our photosynthetic processes slow, and the message travels from our leaves down through our stems: it is time to prepare for dormancy. This is not a death but a deep, restful sleep, a necessary period of rejuvenation to survive the freezing temperatures and gather energy for a spectacular display next spring. Your help in this transition is crucial for our health and vitality.
Before the ground freezes solid, we require one last, deep drink. While our top growth is dying back, our root systems are still active beneath the soil. This final hydration is vital for preventing desiccation over the long winter. Dry roots in frozen soil can lead to severe damage or even kill us. Please water us deeply in the late autumn, after the foliage has died back but before the ground has frozen. This stored water will be a lifeline for our roots throughout the dormant season.
You may be tempted to fertilize us as you tuck us in for winter, but please refrain. Fertilizing now, especially with nitrogen-rich formulas, would encourage tender new growth that is highly susceptible to frost damage. Instead, our process is one of withdrawal. We are pulling essential sugars and nutrients down from our stems and leaves into our storage organs—the crown and tuberous roots. This concentrated energy reserve is what will fuel our explosive growth when warmth returns. Allow our foliage to die back naturally; do not cut it down until it has yellowed or browned, ensuring this nutrient transfer is complete.
Our most vulnerable part is the crown—the bud-bearing area between the roots and the stems. A sudden, deep freeze without a protective snow blanket can be fatal to these precious buds. After the ground has frozen hard, typically after several hard frosts, please apply a loose, breathable layer of insulation over our base. Excellent materials include a 2-4 inch layer of straw, shredded leaves, or pine boughs. This mulch does not keep us warm; rather, it keeps the ground consistently frozen, preventing the harmful cycle of freeze-thaw-freeze that can heave our roots right out of the soil. Crucially, avoid using heavy, moisture-retentive materials like whole leaves or heavy compost, which can smother our crown and promote rot.
With these steps complete, we are prepared. Protected by our blanket of mulch and sustained by our stored water and nutrients, we enter a state of true dormancy. Our metabolic activities slow to a near halt as we wait patiently beneath the snow and ice. This period of cold rest is not something to be feared; it is a biological requirement. We need this chilling period to break dormancy and flower properly next season. Your careful preparation ensures we will emerge strong, healthy, and ready to put on our most magnificent show for you when the world thaws.
