Winterizing Rhubarb

Your rhubarb plants can survive the winter on their own. That being said, it is possible for you to optimize their winter existence such that they are in the best shape possible when spring comes along. Follow the instructions below to ensure the best possible position for your rhubarb plants during the winter months.

Step 1 – Manure Layer 1

Rhubarb plants love manure and it is therefore the best fertilizer to use for winterizing your rhubarb plants.  The best thing to do is to add manure around the plant in the same way that you would add normal fertilizer or mulch.  You want the area around the plant to contain four inches of manure during the laying down of the first layer.  Err on the side of providing extra manure as a lack of nutrients will undermine the winterization process.

Step 2 – Mulch Layer 1

Once you have completed step 1, add a mulch layer on top of the manure.  You can use straw mulch for this task as it is the best suited to help protect the rhubarb plant during the winter months.  A simple layer of mulch is sufficient for this task as the vast majority of the work in terms of protection and nutrient provision will be done by the manure layer which was added in the previous step.

Step 3 – Water

Water the plants once you have added the layers of manure and mulch.  Continue watering the plant during the winter months if the plant gets dry.  This is essential to maintain the root structure of the rhubarb.  Without a healthy root structure, the plant will not winterize properly and will take extra time to regain its former structure during the spring and summer months.

Step 4 – Manure Layer 2

At some point during the course of the winter, the leaves on the rhubarb plant should wither and die.  This is a normal part of the rejuvenation process that takes place for many plants during the winter months and should not be looked on with any alarm.  In fact, it should be your signal for initiating step 4.

Step 4 involves the adding of a second manure layer to the rhubarb plant.  Remove the dead leaves before you add the plant so that you’ll be able to remember that the second layer of nutrients has already been added.  This time, make sure that you add about half as much manure as you did the first time.  Rhubarb does love manure, however you don’t want to overdo it.

Step 5 – Mulch Layer 2

Finish off your winterization process by adding a second layer of mulch over the first layer.  You should find that the first layer of mulch has taken a beating from the consistent snow and elemental weathering that has gone on since you finished step 2.  The second layer of mulch is there to bolster the first layer and to allow the rhubarb plant to continue onto the spring months with the same protection.