Winter gardening???

 

For most of us winter is the time to look out the window and enjoy the views you've created in your garden over the years.  What a great time to sit by the woodstove with a hot cup of coffee and read gardening books!

 

However, on those odd sunny days when you are itching to get outside here are some things to consider:

 

- Pruning. 

Winter is a great time to prune trees and evergreens.  Evergreens because you can use the greenery for decorating!  Trees because you have a great view of the branching structure while the leaves are gone.

 

- Feed the birds. 

You'll quickly find friends by putting seed out for our feathered friends on cold winter days.

 

- Reevaluate your design for the winter months. 

Take a look at those large perennial beds and consider what they'd look like with some winter structure.  Maybe some evergreen color or woody shrubs with interesting bark, fruit color or growth habits.  You might get some planting ideas for spring.  Another thing to consider with perennials is to leave the foliage up for the winter.  While some perennials can be messy looking in winter and might look better with a pruning, others such as ornamental grasses should be left alone until spring.  Besides having interesting winter character, leaving the foliage up for the winter will trap snow which blankets and protects the roots in the winter.

 

 

Feel free to share information with me or ask questions at:

 

mikeepp@mindspring.com