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YOUR WINTER GARDEN
- To prevent winter burn on your broadleaf evergreens spray them with WILTSTOP. Make sure the temperature is above 40 degrees. Spray Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Holly, Cedar, Juniper and all other evergreens. This will help the plants to retain moisture in their needles and will prevent drying out and death of branches.
- As shrubs and perennials go dormant, clean your garden beds, removing any spent flower heads and dying foliage or branches. Remove summer blooming annuals and vegetables as the frost kills them. Leave dried foliage of ornamental grasses for an interesting winter effect. Late clean up eliminates places for insects and disease to hide over winter.
- MULCH ! Mulching helps conserve moisture as well as maintain more even soil temperatures. In areas where the ground experiences frequent freezing and thawing, this is particularly important.
- Plant a live Christmas Tree as part of a windbreak.
- Trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers can be planted as long as the ground is not frozen. Grass seed will not germinate below 40 degrees, so save that for Spring now.
- Remember that Spring is just around the corner ! Plan your flower and vegetable gardens now. Our selection of all types of seeds will arrive in January so make your list now !
- Also remember that gardening is not just for the outdoors. Start an herb garden on a sunny windowsill. Bring color and texture into your home all winter by planting indoor bulbs such as Paperwhites and Amaryllis. We have the bulbs and the information you need to grow blooming flowers indoors all winter…these also make excellent gifts !
If you have an interest in a special tree, plant or shrub, let us know now to be sure that we order it in for you. Winter is a great time to consult with one of our Landscape Designers to plan for next year, call us for an appointment or email us through this site with any questions you may have.
- 1. Fall is the perfect time to plant and transplant trees, shrubs, bulbs, perennials and groundcover as well as seed or reseed your lawn. Fall’s cooler air temperatures, warm soil temperatures and more even rainfall promote active root growth before the onset of winter. Use Master Nursery RootMaster to help stimulate fine root growth.
- 2. For vibrant Fall color in beds, borders and containers, plant Fall mums, ornamental cabbage and kale and Pansies. Remove spent blooms (deadhead) to prolong the color and don’t forget to water !
- 3. Continue to water trees, shrubs and perennials as needed. Remember that deep but infrequent waterings encourage deep root development.
- 4. Bring tropical plants indoors when the temperatures drop below 50 degrees. Check for signs of pests and treat with Bonide Systemic Insect granules and/or Insecticidal Soap.
- 5. Plant Spring blooming bulbs for next Spring’s bulb show ! Tuck bulbs into your perennial border, mingle them amongst your groundcover and naturalize them around trees. Plant in groups for the best show. When planting, mix Espoma Bone Meal or Espoma Bulb Tone with the soil. Bulbs are an easy way to add color to your yard; DIG, DROP, DONE !
- 6. Cut back dying foilage of water plants and sink pots to the bottom of your pond for overwintering. Cover your pond with netting to protect from falling leaves. Stop feeding fish when water temperatures go below 50 degrees.
- 7. Use Espoma Hollytone on all of the acid-loving trees and shrubs in your yard for healthier plants next Spring.
- 8. Apply a Fall lawn fertilizer such as Jungle Growth for faster green-up next Spring.
- 9. Be more faithful applying Deer Repellents such as Deer Scram and Liquid Fence. The deer are eating more now to prepare for Winter !
- 10. Install stakes with netting or burlap around smaller trees to prevent the dreaded “Buck Rub” which will start now and during the rutting season.
- 11. Apply Bonide GrubBeater to your lawn to help break the life cycle of grubs.
As the leaves start to fall, it is a good idea to keep your garden beds clear. Leaf removal
at this time of year is important to your plant’s health. Although it sounds contradictory,
removing all fallen leaves and debris before mulching will give your garden beds a warm
winter sleep without the worry of harboring over wintering insects and diseases.
In perennial beds, remove the fallen leaves and any brown, rotten or ugly plant debris.
Trim off spent flower stalks down to where they came out of the plant. Cut plants like
garden phlox, peonies, coreopsis etc…down to the ground. When the mums finish
flowering, cut the entire plant down to 4” from the ground. Although there is no
guarantee, they are more likely to return next spring if a small amount of stalk is left over
the winter. Once the beds are cleaned, cover with at least 2” of fresh mulch.
If you like to leave some seed heads up for winter interest (Black-eyed Susan, sedum,
cone flower or grasses) simply mulch around the base of those plants. Snow will collect
on top of the seed heads like little white caps. Also, the seed heads are considered a
delicacy to goldfinches.
Clean as much debris as possible from under and around trees and shrubs. If you planted
new shrubs during the growing season, mulch around their bases right around the first
frost. Mulch keeps the roots at an even temperature. Keep mulch a few inches away
from the trunks of trees and bases of shrubs to prevent rotting and insect infestation.
When the leaves have fallen, it is easier to see the shape of your trees and shrubs. Prune
them lightly for shaping and to remove any branches that cross and rub against one
another. Do not prune spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas or rhododendrons in the fall,
as you will prune away next spring’s flowers. Wait until after the blooms fade in the
spring to prune or shape them. Dead, damaged or diseased wood can be pruned from
trees and shrubs any time of the year.
Take extra care to keep rose beds clean. Remove all dropped leaves and flower petals
from around the base of the plant. Cut spent flowers off, just above a 5-leaflet leaf.
Before temperatures drop below 45 degrees, prune off any dead, damaged or diseased
canes, and shape the plant a bit, being careful not to remove more than one third of the
entire plant. Pile a 6 inch cone of mulch around the base of the plant, especially to cover
any grafts. In spring, remove the mulch 2 inches per week so as not to shock the plant.
Fall maintenance is essential to your garden bed’s success next year. NOW IS THE
TIME TO PLANT YOUR SPRING BLOOMING BULBS! Have early blooms and
color to start your gardens early. Many bulbs are deer resistant such as daffodils,
hyacinths, snowdrops and allium.
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