Question
I'm in zone 5..how do I prepare YELLOW ARCHANGEL and JAPANESE SPURGE for winter. Do I cut them down to the ground or what. Thank you.

Answer
Robert,
 I'm in zone 5 also--and I have both those plants.  I do nothing to them in preparation for winter.  They will somewhat die back so in the spring you just use a rake and clean it out.

I always send out my Super Soil Recipe with my answers:

Super Soil Mixture:

  In the established garden areas, I  use a shovel, pitchfork or small cultivator to turn the  areas around the plants each year and work in some of the mix.  Work it into the soil around all your established plants.
 
For new garden beds:
 For every 10?x 10?of NEW area add: (you can cut the portions as needed)

4 bags of good topsoil
4 bags of horse/cow/chicken manure-elephant is the VERY BEST!!
Any amount of your own compost
2 bags sand-play sand is OK(depending on your soil type)
1 bag Millorganite -organic fertilizer, nurseries-not avail. in all states
2 bags cedar mulch
2 bags pellet gypsum (for aeration)-if your soil has lots of clay
2 bags powdered/granulated sulphur-helps to keep diseases down

Rototill this mixture into the ground to about 1 foot in depth or more if you can.

This mixture is the best I have formulated and I have GREAT success with it.  I always have a bunch of it premixed so when I transplant I can have that area primed!  This stuff is like butter if you till it enough and put in the right stuff!

MILLORGANITE can be purchased at nurseries , about $12 a bag.  It is organic and will not harm pets or you!  You can put it on the lawn in the spring and again in the fall with a spreader ( I put it on quite heavily) and all your flowers and vegetables.  It is not available in all states.  Your plants and lawn will look LUSH!! Put it in potted plants also--you will really notice the difference!!

揚REEN?is also a GREAT product to put on your garden areas to prevent weed growth.  You first have to get all the weeds out. Then put on the PREEN-with or without fertilizer-right at the first of spring and again in the middle of summer.  I抳e NEVER had weeds in my flower areas since starting this product.  If you want to go organic and natural, use corn gluten at the same times.  You can抰 sow seeds once you抳e put Preen down.  You have to wait about 6 weeks--so on those areas you want to use seeds--don抰 use PREEN until the seeds have sprouted and started to leaf..

Sijka