Tropicals & Tender Perennials: "what-can-I-grow-in-my-zone", 1 by bwilliams

bwilliams wrote:
The bags of leaves works much like your chicken wire. I just found it much easier to put up and take down. Though it maybe a eye sore during winter. Take the bags and make a circle around your plant. Then add leaves or mulch around the trunks or plants your protecting. I then add more bags and more leaves till it is completely covered up. I usually use this one things like crinums and Musa basjoo. The stuff your interested in saving the trunks on.

As for the black matting is commonly called ground cover or weed protection matting their are a few form heavy duty and lighter forms. The tough form is what I use and can be used again and again.
What I do is mulch my plant regularly then add the matting over top. It is not level or flat some bags or rocks are on top to hold it down from the wind. This seems to work well and come spring is easy to remove and store. The mulch is then raked from the plants and spread out. The mat works good for areas with Colocasias, cannas gingers and other plants that die back fairly level with the ground. I dont think you would get the same effect if you used it as a weed barrier because you would then cover over the whole mat with mulch which will not collect as much heat. The other problem I find is that many tropicals will grow fast and spread usually under the matting and raise it up.

Now for small hoop houses or greenhouses. I usually only suggest them for Palms or similar plants that can take a lot of cold but need just a bit more protection. Here are some pics of our palms in their winter protected greenhouses. These houses have 2 spot lights which are turned on if the nights are cold. They produce just enough heat to keep the plants from getting damaged.