How to Care for Bleeding Heart Plants in Winter
Bleeding heart plants are beautiful perennials that add a touch of Old-World charm to any garden. They’re relatively low-maintenance, but they do require some special care during the winter months.
Preparing Bleeding Heart Plants for Winter
Bleeding heart plants are perennials, which means that their roots will survive cold winter temperatures. However, their foliage and flowers may not. To protect your bleeding heart plants from the cold, you should start preparing them for winter months before the first fall frost.
Once the flowers of your bleeding heart plant fade, cut back their stems to an inch or two above the ground. Continue to water the foliage until it dies back naturally. This may happen in the summer or with the first frost, depending on how short your summers are.
Once the foliage has died back, cut the entire plant down to an inch or two above the ground. Even though the foliage is gone, the underground rhizomes of a bleeding heart plant are still alive and well in the winter – they’re just dormant.
Protecting Bleeding Heart Plants from the Cold
The key to protecting bleeding heart plants from the cold is to keep their rhizomatous roots alive. When the cold temperatures of autumn start to set in, cover the stumps of your plant stems with a thick layer of mulch. This will help insulate the roots and make winterizing a bleeding heart plant much easier.
You can use any type of mulch, such as shredded leaves, compost, or bark. Spread the mulch out to cover the area around the plant, and make sure it’s at least a few inches thick.
Overwintering Bleeding Heart Plants
Once your bleeding heart plants are mulched, they will be protected from the cold and can be left to overwinter. In late winter or early spring, the plants should start putting up new shoots again.
Additional Tips for Winterizing Bleeding Heart Plants
- Choose a planting site that is protected from the wind. This will help to prevent the plant from drying out and becoming damaged by the cold.
- Water your bleeding heart plants deeply before the first frost. This will help to hydrate the roots and make them more resistant to the cold.
- Avoid fertilizing your bleeding heart plants in the fall. This can encourage new growth, which can be damaged by the cold.
By following these tips, you can help your bleeding heart plants survive the winter and come back strong in the spring.
Troubleshooting Bleeding Heart Plants in Winter
If your bleeding heart plants are not doing well in the winter, there are a few things you can check:
- Make sure the plants are getting enough water. Bleeding heart plants need to be watered deeply before the first frost and throughout the winter, especially if there is no snow cover.
- Check the mulch around the plants. Make sure it is at least a few inches thick and that it is not compacted.
- If the plants are not putting up new shoots in the spring, they may have been damaged by the cold. You can try to revive them by cutting back the dead stems and watering them deeply.
With a little care, your bleeding heart plants can survive the winter and come back strong in the spring.