Winter Gardening – there is more to do than feeding the birds…
Heat up some cocoa and throw your woolies on, there are a variety of hardy plants such as evergreens, uncut perennials and
ornamental grasses that will add depth and colour to your garden through the winter season. Decorative urns, statues, wood and stone work also offer design permanence through the cold phase.
When the ground is covered in white and your thumb is still feeling green there are still activities you can do to nurture the health and look of your garden outdoors:
- Wrap delicate shrubs and trees before the worst of cold arrives.
- Cover garden beds with more mulch, leaves or soil if you notice plants are beginning to heave out of ground.
- Remove broken branches as they occur and fluff off snow from evergreens to prevent further breakage.
- Apply dormant oil as spring approaches to prevent pest infiltration as they begin to come alive. Be sure to check which plants are sensitive to this treatment to avoid damage: such as junipers, spruces, maples, smoke trees …..
Ingredients for a non toxic dormant oil recipe:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoon biodegradable liquid soap
1 gallon water
….enough for one mature fruit tree.
On the contrary we may have a mild season too so expect to see the unexpected – possibly your rosebush in full splendour along with yew, rose hips, mugo pine and member of the cedar and sedum families.
In short, even though your garden will be resting it can still be enjoyed and nurtured.
PS. Don’t forget to make a snow angel.
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