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| Winterize Your Landscape |
Since we all can't live in Florida or California, many of us will spend the next few months dealing with sub-freezing temperature, snow, ice and cold winds. While many plants native to your area are well designed to handle these harsh conditions, many plants we use are not native and may not be acclimated to these conditions. Let?s look at a few techniques you can do to help them through the dormant season.
Watering - It is important to keep plants well watered in the fall and winter. This is especially true for evergreens which will transpire water, even in the dormant season when they are not actively growing. This is also important for trees and shrubs which have recently been installed and are not yet fully rooted out. While plants don't need as much water since they are not actively growing, if the roots cannot obtain sufficient moisture, the leaves and stems will dry out and die.
Mulch - A layer of mulch on the roots of sensitive plants can help keep the root zone from freezing, plus help to maintain moisture. Apply a quality mulch, such as pine straw, hardwood or other organic materials. Only apply 1-2 inches, less on heavier mulch types, so that you don't suffocate the roots. It is best to apply it late in the fall so that rodents looking for a winter home have already moved out.
Protective Sprays - Most garden centers will have protective sprays or antidesiccants available that can be applied to the foliage to reduce moisture loss. The effectiveness of these materials will depend upon the weather and hardiness of the plant. They are sprayed onto the foliage in the late fall and act like a weather proofing coating that prevents water loss.
Pruning - The best thing you can do for most tender trees and shrubs is to limit your pruning in the late summer and fall to a minimum. You do not want to force late season growth that may not have time to harden off. Try to limit your late season pruning to a light "tipping" of shrubs or just a few branches on trees.
Other techniques you can use to help plants over-winter successfully is to make sure you don?t over fertilize plants which can force excessive growth. Small shelters, usually made of burlap, can be installed around a plant in overly windy locations to help reduce wind desiccation.
If a plant does suffer from some ?winter burn? make sure it is dead before you pull it out or prune it. Leaves can turn brown while the stems and buds are still alive, so give it a few weeks in the spring before making your decision. |
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