Harsh climatic conditions do not affect different plants in the same way. So you need to know the exact requirements of a particular plant for the climate.
Coral Bells can survive any winter because of its excellent hardiness. Use well-drained soil and mulch to make the plant more comfortable in winter.
Below I will go into more detail on what you need to do to make it even easier for the plant to survive the winter. You will also learn what to do and what not to do to make sure heuchera comes out of winter in good health.
Use well-draining soil
It is very important that you use well-drained soil when planting. As a result, water will not stagnate near the bush.
Coral Bells are usually quite wet in the winter. It can be snow, rain, or just wet soil. During thaws, the situation is even worse and stem rot can begin. You should definitely drain this water as far down into the ground as possible.
To do this, mix 1-2 buckets of soil conditioner with the native soil when planting and only then plant Coral Bells.
An additional advantage of such a substrate is that it will be much easier for the plant to develop a root system. As a result, the bush will be more lush and beautiful.
It is also good practice to create drainage under the plant. Dig a hole three times deeper than the root system and put half a bucket of stones in it. This way you will save the plant from the problem of excessive moisture.
Water well
The next thing you want to do is water Coral Bells well before winter. This is to ensure that the plant stores enough water for the winter because it uses its internal reserves at this time.
From September onwards, keep an eye on the soil around the bush. And as soon as it is 1-1.5 inches dry, water the heuchera right away. Use about 1 gallon of water for each plant.
Avoid watering in wet weather. Also, don’t use too much water to keep the soil from turning into a swamp.
As soon as it gets colder and snowfalls, stop watering completely. The only exception is if the winter is too dry and warm.
Clean the bush
Next, you need to clean Coral Bells of all dead parts. This way you will protect the plant from possible rotting during the winter thaw.
First of all, this applies to the flower petioles. There is no need to leave them in for the winter. The flower stalks are usually very strongly attached to the stem so tear them off very carefully.
Do this in early fall so that the wounds have time to heal by winter. If you are cleaning the plant in the second half of the fall, it is better to cut off the flower stalks 1 to 2 inches away from the stem so as not to injure the plant.
The same goes for dry leaves. Cut them off at a small distance from the stem. Take care not to damage the stem, otherwise, the wounds may begin to rot.
Also, remove all plant debris from under the shrub. This is to prevent them from rotting in the thaw.
Mulch the plant
There are many benefits to mulching plants. One of them is more comfortable overwintering.
If you mulch Coral Bells, the heat that will come from under the ground will be retained near the roots. As a result, the plant will lose less energy during hard frosts.
Use only organic materials as mulch. Pine bark or compost work best. Avoid artificially made mulch, such as shredded car tires.
A layer of mulch should be at least 2 inches. Don’t cover the stem too much; it should remain slightly above the surface.
Mulch the surface around the bush twice its diameter.
Among other things, the mulch will give some decorative value to your flower bed.
Don’t prune heuchera
What you don’t want to do is prune Coral Bells on the eve of winter. The plant absolutely does not need open wounds when it is dormant.
If you cut the heuchera in late fall or early winter, the wounds will not heal. They will rot during the thaw, and then the rot will spread to the whole plant. As a result, you will either lose the plant or it will take a very long time to recover.
Over time, the stem of Coral Bells will elongate and the plant will lose its attractive appearance. If you have to cut it back, do it in late spring but never over the winter.