On this topic-- I've used 16 x 48 styrofoam panels held in place by bricks to grow oncocyclus species and tender hybrids outdoors . To protect them from untimely snow melt and summer rain. I've pied ssandonthem covering the rhizomes, then laying the styrofoam on them with bricks,, taking it off at about April 4 here in the Chicago area. For small areas one can cut the foam witth a sharp knife and it works as well even if only 3-4 inches overlaps the outside margin of the plant. It can be saved and reused for years if one is careful and doesn't let it get too broken up. 'Original Message ----- From: "P. C. Andrews" <pcamusa@hotmail.com> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 8:22 PM Subject: [pbs] dry winter protection > > I usually protect the bed that has my cactus, agave, and summer rainfall > african bulbs with a little bit of mulch and a large tarp to keep the soil > dry all winter. I'd like to avoid the mulch since its a mess to clean up > in the spring. I ran across a roll of Reflectix insulation at a local > lumber store that looks like it could be a good solution. Its about 3/8" > thick aluminized bubble plastic. Has anyone used this material to protect > a bed and if so is it sufficiently UV resistant to last a few winters? > Thanks! > Phil Andrews > Southern Michigan, Zone 5ish > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/