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Heaths or Heathers that won't need winter protection?

Posted by laceyvail z5b, WV (My Page) on
Tue, Dec 12, 06 at 6:44

I'm an aging gardener looking to ease up on the work in very large ornamental beds. I think I have ideal conditions for heaths and heathers (sandy, acid soil), but although I am a very experienced gardener, I have never grown heaths or heathers and know very little about them. I've only begun to learn something about them, and what I've read suggests that many people cover their heaths and heathers in winter, not something I want to add to the yearly work.

Can you suggest some varieties that I won't have to cover? I'm open to all sizes and foliage colors and am not fussy about bloom time.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Heaths or Heathers that won't need winter protection?

Sorry, I should add to my post above that we no longer get any snow worth talking about, but occasionally get nights below 10 degrees.


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RE: Heaths or Heathers that won't need winter protection?

Erica carnea is probably the most fail-safe. But some people say Erica vagans is the most drought tolerant. To me they are both pretty tough once established. Do water them their first year if it gets droughty.

Try contacting Rock Spray nursery. Smail mail order plants are probably going to be cheaper than what you can buy at a local garden center. In my experience heaths are VERY easy to establish from small 4" pots. Heathers...a little harder.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.rockspray.com/


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RE: Heaths or Heathers that won't need winter protection?

you need to cover heathers if you have no dependable snow cover.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rock Spray Nursery


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RE: Heaths or Heathers that won't need winter protection?

Laceyvail, did you ever plant heaths or heathers? I've only just discovered these plants and have little knowledge about them. I'm in SE Wisconsin, so I'm wondering how they perform in our zone (also 5b).


 
 


 

 


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