How much of a leaf cover do you need for that? I don't really know. This is the first time I am planting in the front yard woods, after picking up sticks and limbs, trimming up some trees, pulling up tree seedlings, pulling up 'some' vines, and digging out lots and lots of May Apples, and raking aside all the leaf cover. Stringing the rows and doing the actual planting is the easiest part of the whole planting experience. I'd say the leaf cover is at least 6" or so. I kept watching the weatherunderground on the computer all day, hoping it would get warm. Even though it wasn't warm at 4 PM (was just 34 though it was sunny) I headed out to get a few planted. Surprisingly, I wasn't cold, the soil was wet, but not clumpy, my hands didn't get cold, and I managed to plant 15 little bags, 47 total bulbs. so all those from the front yard (city tree) went to the city for composting. How I wish I had trees that weren't all in the woods or at the edge of the woods. All the leaves at the edges of the yard are full of sticks and twigs. I used to sometimes go to friend's houses and do their leaves, just to get to bring them all home for the veggie garden. I've got this wonderful leaf shredder that reduces them 13 to 1, turning leaves into what I call brown gold. I think the little willow leaves should be fine. Last year I remember "discovering" that the open areas were frozen solid while those with some cover were not. I might be able to exploit that some year if I knew what to aim for. How deep? I wonder if you couldn't just cover an area with either clear plastic or black plastic to keep the warm in and the freezing cold out, thus lengthening the planting season so you could get in on the late sales, like from B and B's.

They need larger containers and LOTS more light.

This post started eight years ago. I'm growing Dicentra scandens Athens Yellow which I purchased from a Nursery in North Carolina-called "Plant Delights". It's the third year I've grown them. My first set of four plants returned for a second year, after producing hundreds of yellow-heart-shaped flowers on six foot vines the first year. The second year crop was accidentally killed off by my neighbor who sprayed Round Up in an attempt to rid his yard of Poison Ivy (also a vine) . Killed my poor dicentras, too.So this is my third year, moved to a different spot. Mostly shady-but they are climbing a trellis I placed next to them. It's mid June and they seem okay, but no flowers yet. We've had an uinusually cool and rainy spring after a hard cold winter. I'm on the North Shore of Long Island New York, solid Zone 6. I got interested in Athens Yellow after having success growing Dicentra Spectabilis (pink and red flowers).

I have a golden colored clematis called Stolwijk Gold. Yellow or golden colored leaves are highly desired in this type. See what I mean! They are primarily grown for their beautiful foliage. Friends who visit my garden are more exited about this clematis than the flowering ones! LOL.