Winter Gardening 2010

Well, if you are an east coast or southern gardener, you have had some snow, even to Texas, Florida and Louisiana so here are a few tips we have found that help.

Brooms
When we get heavy wet snows, we like to take a broom and lightly beat the snow off of items like Conifers, Camellias, Evergreen Azaleas and Rhododendrons, and especially Hollies. Lightly brush the snow from the plants using a soft household broom. Keeps broken limbs down, especially if we get winds to follow, which it seems we always do around here.

If you get broken limbs, go ahead and prune them off. Make good clean cuts, and remove the debris to your compost pile. Might as well get some black magic compost from lost limbs.

Standing Water
At my house, I have to continually make paths for water to run off. We just moved in several years ago, and I am still completing the drainage on the existing gardens, but remember PROPER DRAINAGE IS PARAMOUNT TO PLANT SUCCESS!! This is true, especially in winter. Don’t let root systems sit underwater for long periods of time. Underneath snow is fine, it actually insulates the plants and surrounding ground, but waterlogging the roots after lots of winter weather can be hazardous.

Watch salting your drives and walks if the runoff can lead to gardening areas. Better to shovel that area if you can than to overdo with ice melt-the salts in ice melts can be quite hazardous even in low doses to some plants. I have to use some on my quite shady driveway, but I am quite stingy, and watch where it will run off.

Just a few quick tips that may help. We are sitting by the window, watching for the first signs of our Tomassini’s Crocus to start emerging and assuring us that Spring is on the way! Take a look around the new website and enjoy brightening up your day with lots of colorful pictures!

Thanks,
Jamie