Hallson Gardens

Should I buy those styrofoam cones? If not, how do you get the leaves to stay around them? And do you prune climbers so you can cover them?

You can use the cones but I just mound soil around and on the bush to about a foot, in fact I use the contents of a hanging basket cut two of these in half put them around bush to form an inside square then fill it with top soil. In the spring I pull away basket contents then wash away topsoil with a hose. Climbers are hardy and dont need covering.
Bill

Thanks a trillion! I appreciate all the help I can get.

One can also take a tomatoe cage and turn it upside down, wrap in plastic and fill with mulched leaves, this is what some of the
old timers did in NE when I was a child back there. Out here we just strip their leaves and they do great, but again I'm not a normal
gardener.

I do nothing.....if they are buried deep enough, bud union 4-6 inches below grown level, they should be fine......when you prune to put those cones over them, they think it's time to sprout........so, basically do nothing till you prune in the spring!