Kiawah Island Community Association

Prune back perennial plant materials such as Lantana, Salvia, Verbena, Plumbago, and most ornamental grasses. Make sure to check on the proper techniques and times for your particular varieties.
Make sure that your beds are “weed free.” Any weeds or turf grass that has made a home in your beds will compete with the winter annuals you plant and with your existing trees, shrubs, and perennials for light, water, and nutrients.
Be careful to select good fall/winter plants based on the amount of sunlight you get during these months, as well as their water and temperature requirements. The length of day affects a plant’s ability to bloom more than anything. The plant you choose may be able to survive colder weather, but may never bloom due to shorter days.
Get soil tests done on your plant beds, especially the ones where you are going to plant annuals. Make amendments based on the results of your tests.
Remember that your annuals still need food even when it is cold. Just alter your usual fertilizer choices by using a Nitrogen source other than Ammonia (i.e., Ammonium Nitrate). This form of Nitrogen is not available to the plants at temperatures much below 65° F.
Insulate your beds with an extra application of mulch/straw, especially if it has become excessively thin.
Remember to water. Any annuals which you may plant will need water to become established in the landscape, and will need supplemental waterings in periods of little rainfall.
Watch out for fungus/disease in the fall and spring. At these times, increased rainfall combined with cooler nighttime temperatures create ideal parameters for outbreaks of particular fungus/disease such as Botrytis, Rhyzoctonia leaf and stem blight, and Powdery Mildew.


Key Points for Winterizing your Plant Beds
We all prepare our cars, boats, and homes for potentially inclement winter weather, but we sometimes forget about our plant beds during the cold months and are left wondering what happened in the spring. KICA’s Land Management staff suggests the following simple, proactive steps for protecting your plant beds throughout the winter months.

Prune back perennial plant materials such as Lantana, Salvia, Verbena, Plumbago, and most ornamental grasses. Make sure to check on the proper techniques and times for your particular varieties. Make sure that your beds are “weed free.” Any weeds or turf grass that has made a home in your beds will compete with the winter annuals you plant and with your existing trees, shrubs, and perennials for light, water, and nutrients. Be careful to select good fall/winter plants based on the amount of sunlight you get during these months, as well as their water and temperature requirements. The length of day affects a plant’s ability to bloom more than anything. The plant you choose may be able to survive colder weather, but may never bloom due to shorter days. Get soil tests done on your plant beds, especially the ones where you are going to plant annuals. Make amendments based on the results of your tests. Remember that your annuals still need food even when it is cold. Just alter your usual fertilizer choices by using a Nitrogen source other than Ammonia (i.e., Ammonium Nitrate). This form of Nitrogen is not available to the plants at temperatures much below 65° F. Insulate your beds with an extra application of mulch/straw, especially if it has become excessively thin. Remember to water. Any annuals which you may plant will need water to become established in the landscape, and will need supplemental waterings in periods of little rainfall. Watch out for fungus/disease in the fall and spring. At these times, increased rainfall combined with cooler nighttime temperatures create ideal parameters for outbreaks of particular fungus/disease such as Botrytis, Rhyzoctonia leaf and stem blight, and Powdery Mildew.
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