I've put a lot of new plants in my garden this year, including 7 hibiscus, a new rose bush, and lots of shade plants. I plan on mulching some gardens where I don't already have ground cover growing.

What types of plants need to be protected? Will an inch or two of wood mulch do the trick? Or do others use piles of soil or straw to protect things?

Any comments on the types of plants that need winter protection and how to protect them would be greatly appreciated. I know out upstate winters can get mighty cold.

I'm not a rose expert, but I know several people like to mulch them deeply ever winter. The rose forum could advise you.

I'm assuming you mean hardy hibiscus, like hibiscus moscheutos. The beautiful, tropical hibiscus is not hardy, no matter how much you mulch.

I mulch in the spring to keep the weeds down, about 2 inches deep. I really don't give anything extra mulch to hold it over the winter, unless it was just planted in the fall. If it's hardy to your zone, it shouldn't need protection. Keeping them well watered in the fall is the most important. Given our rainy falls, that is usually not a problem.