2. Cover Cowl
Together with the roots being inclined to wreck from chilly temperatures, the cover of leaves are frost tender as nicely.
Freezing temperatures may cause leaves to blacken and die off or the complete cover might endure, first turning brown on the crown the place the leaves emerge from the stem, then collapsing solely.
In case you’re in Zone 9 and anticipate chilly nights, you may defend the foliage by masking it with burlap, an previous sheet, or a frost safety blanket.
Keep away from utilizing sheets of polyurethane – plastic touching the leaves can switch chilly temperatures and trigger much more injury.
I take advantage of spun bond frost cowl that’s out there by the linear foot from Arbico Organics.
Spun Bond Frost Fabric
Gently drape the protecting material over the cover, utilizing poles or stakes to prop it up right into a tent to maintain it from touching the leaves if wanted.
Safe the drape to the plant’s stem or supporting stakes with clips or by tying the 4 corners collectively.
Now, I’ve to admit, when my bushes develop greater than 10 ft tall I don’t cowl the canopies.
It’s an excessive amount of work for this lazy gardener, and will a chilly spell kill the crowns, I don’t thoughts the change.
However the root zone all the time will get mulch in order that the basal shoots keep wholesome sufficient to exchange what nature takes away – out with the previous, in with the brand new!
A string of small vacation lights unfold by the cover can even produce slightly warmth to maintain it hotter for brief durations of time, however provided that they’re the previous incandescent bulbs – LED bulbs run cool and received’t produce sufficient warmth to make a distinction.
Take away cover covers as soon as the hazard of frost has handed.
3. Tie Up Basal Shoots
Mature dracaena vegetation push up basal shoots every year and the tender new progress might require safety from chilly temperatures or snowy buildups.
To guard the foundation zone of basal shoots, use a thick mulch as outlined above.
To maintain the crowns of younger shoots wholesome over winter, they have to be shielded from construct ups of ice or snow, which might flatten the foliage and rapidly trigger crown rot.
You’ll be able to tent the foliage with a frost blanket and stakes, or a cloche set over high of the tender shoots is a simple strategy to maintain the crowns lined.
In case your dracaena is just too large for a cloche, you may gently tie the foliage collectively to kind tight spears.
Tying the foliage collectively enormously reduces the floor space so snow and ice can’t settle, plus it successfully envelops the crown, shielding it from the chilly.
Use backyard or kitchen twine to wrap the shoots. Collect the foliage collectively into manageable bundles, then begin wrapping the twine on the backside.