Not Just Fir Boughs: 4 Options for Plant Cover That Are Just as Good 0 14

Among gardeners, it is commonly believed that fir boughs are one of the best materials for protecting plantings from frost and pests. They do indeed perform well in this regard, but they should not be seen as a magical panacea.

Advantages of Fir Boughs

What are the advantages of fir boughs? They help retain snow, which actually protects plants from the cold. Additionally, conifer branches protect plantings from sunburn and deter rodents, which are repelled by the prickly needles.

If you have the opportunity to stock up on a sufficient amount of fir boughs, that’s wonderful. However, it is important to remember that branches brought from the forest can be a source of infections or insects that are dangerous to your garden crops. Moreover, the needles that fall from them significantly acidify the soil in the beds, which many plants will not appreciate.

However, not every gardener can afford to create winter covers from fir boughs. Even if a coniferous forest is located near your plot, you cannot just go into it and break off (or cut) branches from the trees growing there. Such actions can result in a hefty fine. Legally, fir boughs can only be obtained from already felled pines and spruces, or from those that have been blown down by the wind, or from trees that are scheduled to be cut down soon—for example, for sanitary cleaning of the forest.

What Else Can Be Used to Cover Plants

If fir boughs are not available to you, don’t be upset! There are plenty of good materials that are just as effective in their beneficial qualities. In some cases, they may even outperform fir boughs.

Dry Leaves

Leaf litter can provide good protection for the roots and stems of plants from frost. However, you should choose dry leaves without signs of disease or pests for covering. The best options are leaves from chestnuts, oaks, or maples—they decompose more slowly than others, even in wet soil.

However, like fir boughs, leaf litter allows moisture to pass through, so when you insulate your plantings with it in November, be sure to cover the leaves with plastic film, making side vents for ventilation. This way, all your plants will comfortably survive the winter.

If possible, leaf litter can be confidently replaced with dry fern leaves, which have all the same advantages. But again, you won't be able to do without plastic film here either.

Pruned Branches (Brushwood)

Another type of covering material that is not much inferior to fir boughs. Brushwood effectively retains snow, does not hinder the flow of oxygen to the plantings, and does not decompose quickly. To deter rodents, you can add branches from deciduous trees, taken from raspberry, rosehip, or gooseberry bushes.

By the way, if you run out of cut or fallen branches in your garden, you can easily collect them in the forest—this will definitely not result in a penalty, unlike fir boughs.

But keep in mind that if your region often experiences cold winters with little snow, then just branches will not be enough to protect garden plants—you will need to add peat or dry leaves. However, the same will have to be done even if you use the best fir boughs instead of brushwood.

Wood Chips

Wood chips are quite effective in protecting plants from frost, which is why they are often used to cover the root zone. This lightweight covering material keeps plantings warm in winter and makes the soil beneath them loose and fertile in spring. However, fresh wood chips, like needles, significantly acidify the soil, so it is best to use decomposed ones—left outside for about a year.

As with leaf litter, wood chips absorb moisture well, so a waterproof film should be laid over them, leaving openings for air circulation. The optimal option for use as insulation is medium-sized wood chips. The reason is quite simple: it is difficult to work with fine material, while coarse wood chips have insufficient thermal insulation properties.

Peat

This material is a good thermal insulator and protects plant roots from frost just as effectively as wood chips. Additionally, peat allows air to pass through and does not compact easily. Like wood chips, it makes the soil (especially clay soil) looser and more nutritious.

However, an important point must be considered: while high-moor and transitional peat are looser and more heat-retaining, they actively acidify the soil and are not as nutritious as lowland peat. Lowland peat has neutral acidity and greater fertility, but it only achieves the necessary looseness after it has decomposed.