Garden Winterizing
Cold temperatures are now upon us, and a few garden chores need to be done before retreating to the inside. To help winterize your garden to get the best jump on next spring, and assure perennials' and trees' survival over the winter months, get out the rakes and clippers.
All annuals except fall Pansies and flowering Kale and Cabbage, need to be removed from your flower beds. As long as none of these plants had some disease such as mildew, they can be chopped up and put in the compost pile. For perennials, cut back the foliage to just ground level after the first hard frost, then cover them with mulched leaves to keep them from trying to come up during a possible warm spell in February.
Before the ground freezes, water evergreens, especially broad leaf evergreens such as rhododendrons, hollies, and azaleas, and newly planted trees and shrubs. These also will benefit from a mulch cover for winter.
Roses do not have to be pruned before winter unless the canes are very long and in danger of being wind whipped and broken off. If they are, only prune enough to keep this problem from occurring. Some winter die back usually occurs, and if you prune them now, you will most likely have to prune off winter die back in the spring, possibly stunting your bushes and causing them to struggle to regain their vigor. Clean all leaves and dead branches from the roses, both on the bushes and under them, throwing them away and not putting them in your compost. Any fungal diseases from this year will winter over and create havoc on your roses next season. Finally, to ensure your bushes do not freeze if we have an unusually cold winter, sometime in December mulch up around the base of your bushes to protect the grafted area.
Rake fallen leaves from the lawn to prevent grass mold and possible grass loss over the winter due to lack of sun on the grasses. If you have a mulching mower, you can mulch the leaves into the lawn as long as they are not heavily blanketing the grass.
Cover containers that will remain outdoors to prevent them from filling with water and then freezing and cracking. Clean terra cotta pots and concrete containers and store them in a garage or basement.
Drain and bring in garden hoses and turn off outdoor taps.
Finally, clean and sharpen all your garden tools before you put them away, and before you know it, it will be time to plant your spring garden and you will have a great head start!
By: Michelle Lynn
Gardening Expert at A.J. Rahn Greenhouses
All annuals except fall Pansies and flowering Kale and Cabbage, need to be removed from your flower beds. As long as none of these plants had some disease such as mildew, they can be chopped up and put in the compost pile. For perennials, cut back the foliage to just ground level after the first hard frost, then cover them with mulched leaves to keep them from trying to come up during a possible warm spell in February.
Before the ground freezes, water evergreens, especially broad leaf evergreens such as rhododendrons, hollies, and azaleas, and newly planted trees and shrubs. These also will benefit from a mulch cover for winter.
Roses do not have to be pruned before winter unless the canes are very long and in danger of being wind whipped and broken off. If they are, only prune enough to keep this problem from occurring. Some winter die back usually occurs, and if you prune them now, you will most likely have to prune off winter die back in the spring, possibly stunting your bushes and causing them to struggle to regain their vigor. Clean all leaves and dead branches from the roses, both on the bushes and under them, throwing them away and not putting them in your compost. Any fungal diseases from this year will winter over and create havoc on your roses next season. Finally, to ensure your bushes do not freeze if we have an unusually cold winter, sometime in December mulch up around the base of your bushes to protect the grafted area.
Rake fallen leaves from the lawn to prevent grass mold and possible grass loss over the winter due to lack of sun on the grasses. If you have a mulching mower, you can mulch the leaves into the lawn as long as they are not heavily blanketing the grass.
Cover containers that will remain outdoors to prevent them from filling with water and then freezing and cracking. Clean terra cotta pots and concrete containers and store them in a garage or basement.
Drain and bring in garden hoses and turn off outdoor taps.
Finally, clean and sharpen all your garden tools before you put them away, and before you know it, it will be time to plant your spring garden and you will have a great head start!
By: Michelle Lynn
Gardening Expert at A.J. Rahn Greenhouses
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