Gardening Tips
Winter Tips
Natural food sources are scarce at this time of year, therefore, now is the time to feed the birds in your landscape. Use suet cakes along with birdseed to provide protein and fat for the birds.
Water is also important for birds, so if you have a birdbath in your garden, be sure to use a de-icer to prevent the water from freezing when temperatures fall below 32 degrees.
Brush or sweep heavy snow off evergreen shrubs to prevent breakage.
January and February are the months to prune fruit and shade trees if necessary.
Now is a great time to apply cow manure and other organic soil conditioners to your garden. Apply 2" deep in vegetable gardens and let the nutrients soak into the soil.
If you have a water feature, be sure to check the pumps to make sure they are working properly. Larger pumps that move a lot of water typically will keep running throughout the winter without any problem, however, smaller pumps, will most likely freeze and should be turned off for the winter.
January and February are ideal months to lime the lawn if you have not done so in recent years. Lawns prefer a ph range of 6.2 - 6.8, which typically requires liming in our area. If needed, apply 50 lb. of lime per 1,000 square feet of lawn area. This will raise the ph 1/2 point. If you need to apply more lime, wait six weeks between applications.
Mist ferns and gardenias once a week during the winter months, particularly if your house is very dry.
The winter months are rest periods for houseplants so it is not necessary to feed them. Resume feeding houseplants in late February with a good quality indoor plant food.
Check the leaves of your houseplants for insect problems like scale, mites and mealy bugs. If you detect a problem, take a sample to a reputable garden center and one of their plant specialists will diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate control. There are many ready-use spray products that contain Pyrethrins and/or Resmethrins, which are safe for indoor use.
Check houseplants that have leaves that are turning yellow and brown. Lower leaves that curl up and fall off may be too warm, too dry, or the plant may not be getting enough water. If you are uncertain, bring a sample to your local garden center.
Dealing with Deer
Deer are a major menace to urban landscapes. No longer do deer just feed on rural landscapes. There are a few options for protecting your landscape. These options include fencing, chemical repellents and using deer resistant plants. Fencing is expensive and unsightly for most landscape situations. Deer-resistant plants are the ideal solution. But, keep in mind that few plants are fully deer proof. When deer are hungry, they will eat just about anything.
The combination of heat and summer droughts draw deer to urban landscapes in late summer and fall. If you have a sunny garden, plant purple coneflower and butterfly milkweed, rather than mums or lilies, which are deer favorites. Other deer favorites are hostas and impatiens. For shade gardens, substitute foxglove and ferns. Deer tend to avoid Boxwood because of its smell and barberry, probably because of the thorns. However, hungry deer have been known to eat complete rose bushes.
|
