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Rosemary Winter care

1sthomegarden1sthomegarden Posts: 22
in Fruit & veg
My rosemary (planted in the flower bed) died over the winter last year. Wondering if anyone has any tips on how to protect it (while keeping it in the flower bed). Or am I just best digging it up and bringing it in. Also, looking for tips on best way to prune it over the Winter so I can use it in my roasties. Cheers 
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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    How old was it and what kind? Mature rosemary is very hardy except the prostrate one which is much more tender.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • 1sthomegarden1sthomegarden Posts: 22
    Thanks, It was only about 12 months old but had grown well over the Summer. I'm not sure what kind it was but maybe that's the issue. Is there one you'd recommend or just give it more time to mature? Thanks  
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If it's growing high, it's not the prostrate one.  I've never had to protect one so I can't help you there . Someone else will be able to help you.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • 1sthomegarden1sthomegarden Posts: 22
    No worries, thanks for your help.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2023
    They don’t like their roots to be cold and wet at the same time … so they need really free-draining soil … if the bed its in has lots of organic matter and is moisture retentive then that may well have been the reason for your Rosemary’s demise last winter. 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • 1sthomegarden1sthomegarden Posts: 22
    Ahh yes makes sense, thanks. I could maybe mix some sand into the soil bed Another thought was covering it with a fleece to protect it from the frost.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    As said, you would be far better to get the growing medium right rather than fleecing it over winter.
    If you consider where it grows naturally that should help you  :)
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I live in NE England and it’s wet over winter and at times perishing cold. My “ upright” rosemary bushes aren’t at all bothered. Where they are planted it poor soil and well drained, maybe that’s the reason they do OK. 
    If I want to have fresh rosemary over the winter I just snip off what I need. 
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I agree with @Bilje. I'm in the Northwest, very wet and windy, have had weeks at -12C and my ancient rosemary is unscathed. It is planted in gravelly soil at the top of a drystone wall and never gets waterlogged.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I always had to grow it in pots. It couldn't cope here, even in raised beds when I had it in one. They need really good drainage through winter and I simply couldn't provide that. At best, it just got woody and fairly useless - like lavender is here. I always brought the pots under cover through winter to ensure the plants survived too, because of freezing after wet. I had to sow from seed, or do cuttings on a regular basis, to keep it going well enough. 
    Dry freezing conditions are very different from wet freezing for that sort of plant, so that's why it needs the right site created for it if you don't naturally have that. They can manage quite harsh frosts if they aren't wet at the roots. 
    I expect if I had it right up against a house wall in a raised bed, it would be ok, but then it would be hard to reach it to use! I don't bother with it now, as I don't use it enough for it to be worth the effort. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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