GARDENING TIPS

Winter Garden
October: The winter garden has often become an overlooked season of magical beauty. Once autumn has come, don't be in a rushed to put the garden to bed too early. It's still important to clear away all dead and dying leaves, as well as, messy and self-seeding plants. Plants that are left standing will eventually gather frost and snow, which lends a sculptural beauty to the garden. Some great choices to leave behind are the yarrows, hydrangeas, echinops, poppies and especially the ornamental grasses. Another extra bonus is the seed heads of coneflowers, and others, which birds come to feed on.

Buy Bulbs
Mid October: Buy good quality bulbs to be rewarded with great looking spring flowers. What makes a good, healthy bulb? Look for ones that are not dried out or withered, not marred with cuts or soft spots but are solid and firm to the touch. A healthy bulb will feel solid and have good weight for its size in your palm.

Group Bulbs
November: Flowering bulbs look best when planted in groupings rather than as single stems spaced out along a front walk. A single good splash of color carries much more impact and effectiveness than a single row, which tends to look like toy soldiers lined up.

Plant Bulbs in Containers
Mid November: Plant your bulbs in plastic containers and sink them into the ground instead of planting the bulbs directly in the garden. Then after blooming in the spring, dig up the pots and put them somewhere less conspicuous in the yard. This allows the unsightly foliage to continue to maturity without being seen, as well as, providing new space for the annuals to come.

Keep Evergreens Moist
December: Winter precautions for evergreens are vital. If the ground is lacking in moisture going into the winter, and water loss occurs thru the needles and leaves and cannot be immediately replaced, then winter burn and browning of leaves will take place. You should never let your evergreens go into the winter with dry soil, they should be well watered right up until the ground freezes. Also, an extra precaution would be to wrap the plant material in burlap but never in plastic sheeting, which retains too much heat on sunny days.

Island Beds
Anytime: Creating island beds can be especially challenging since they are viewed from all sides at all times of the year. When planning for this type of bed, keep in mind the winter months for visual interest. This can be accomplished by remembering to use some larger rocks for sculptural interest, stepping stones for pattern, evergreens for year round color and some garden ornaments, (i.e. birdbaths, feeders, etc.), for architectural impact.