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Getting Ready for Winter
I know that we don't really want to think about winter , just as we start to enjoy this wonderful fall weather , BUT there is some prep work that needs to be done to protect and help your yard to survive and thrive.
New plants suffer because of moisture loss , not freezing. We only think of droughts in summer time , but to a plant winter is a 3-4 month killer drought.
That is because snow is not moisture until it melts. It has the possibility of going months without melting. When it does melt it runs off because the groung is still frozen.
Trees and Shrubs
Plants need less moisture in the winter because they are dormat , but still need gallons. New plants are the most susceptible. Trees are considered new until they are 3 to 4 years old , shrubs up to 2 years.
So don't put away your hoses too early , late watering is the #1 way to prevent winter kill. One gallon of water per square foot of soil surface area within and just beyond the root zone is a good but generalized recommendation. Continue this through the fall season until the ground freezes. Another easy way to remember this is "Water weekly , deeply" , unless Mother Nature does it for you.
Another help is mulch. Plants mulched with pine bark , or ground leaves will retain moisture better than ones left bare. Plus the soil will not freeze as deeply , so when we do get a thaw as we often do in January or February , the water will penetrate down instead of running off.
Preventing evaporation above ground is important too. Wrapping new plants with burlap will help fight off the drying effects of wind , as will using an Anti-descant spray like Wilt-Pruf , on the leaf surface of broad leafed evergreens , like Rhodies , Azaleas and Holly.
Staking vulnerable trees is another important tool used to keep the heavy snow and ice from damaging the new and weak plants in your yard.
As always , good soil prep is important. Light friable compost that contains lots of organic matter retains moisture beautifully. It also retains air which is just as important as water. We do a lot of planting here on Cape Cod in the fall , so this is a must when planting , especially in our sandy soils.
For the Veggies
As for the vegetable garden , Winter Rye is a great way to keep the soil from eroding , plus you turn it over in the spring to add lots of organic matter. Use it in the garden after it has been clear of all debris , at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 1000 square feet. Winter Rye is allelopathic , which means that it has the ability to suppress weed seeds. It also can aborb Nitrogen from the soil and store it. When tilled into the soil next spring that's free N for next years crops. Its fibrous roots help aerate the soil too. Winter Rye needs to be tilled into the soil at the depth of 12 to 18 inches.
Roses
All roses need some attention going into winter. Winter weather in zones 6 and below can really challenge rose bushes , particularly the hybrid teas. Shrub roses are hardier and can pretty much fend for themselves , but the hybrid teas and other modern hybrids are a little fussier. Here are some tips for winter rose survival , starting with zones 6 and below:
1. Stop feeding and pruning your roses around the end of August , to discourage tender , new growth that will suffer from winter damage.
2. After the first frost , thoroughly water the soil around your rose bush. Once the ground freezes the bush has to take care of itself , so give it a good soaking going into winter.
3. Remove all fallen leaves to prevent diseases and insects from over-wintering.
4. After a couple of hard freezes , mound 6-12 inches of compost around the crown of the plant , to protect the roots and the graft union where the rose species you are growing is attached to a hardy root stock. The graft should be at or just below the soil surface. In a mild winter , you could also circle the rose with wire and stuff this cage with leaves or mulch.
5. Climbing roses are at risk from strong , drying winds. To protect the canes of cane of climbers , either wrap the canes together bundling something like straw on the outside for insulation or remove the canes from their trellis or support and lay them on the ground. Then tie the canes together and secure them to the ground with landscape pins. Protect with a layer of mulch.
Using Rose Cones and Shrub Frames are an easy way to protect rose and shrubs from winter's snow and ice.
Lawn Care
It is still ok to feed your lawn with an organic fall fertilizer. The reason I say organic , for other reasons than the obvious , is that there are a lot of conventional "fall" fertilizers that have very high Nitrogen numbers. Nitrogen will give a quick green top growth that is not good to do to your lawn coming into winter months. This excessive top growth can lead to fungus problems through the winter like Snow Mold and Pink Snow Mold.
It is better to use a slow releasing fertilizer and one that has a little bit higher numbers in the Phosphorus and Potassium , to help build a stronger root system and overall vigor. The Pro-Gro by North Country Organics is great because it has a nice blend of macro and micro nutrients. It's not always about the N-P-K
Feed the Soil not the Plant
It is important to know this. For many years we have been told to feed our roses , feed our lawn , feed the Hollies etc. etc. Yes the right type of food is important , but if the soil is dead , it will be an uphill battle fighting to keep things healthy. Compost is organic matter , and therefore full of microbial life , and is great to top-dress all types of plants. Use it on your lawn and it will love you. Use it at the time of planting , and it will retain moisture better , and ensure a happy plant.
Other ways of adding microbes is to use Plant Growth Activator , Plant Growth Activator Plus and Microbial Soil Conditioner by Organica. These will help add to soils that might be depleted of good life.
One other mention here , using Roots 1-Step is great for planting trees and shrubs. I have used this on a memorial tree planted on a site that had no water , and garbage for soil. Between the compost and this little miracle in a bag , the tree not only survived , but thrived , and is still doing so today. That does not mean you can use it and never water your plants , no but this will help any tree with transplant stress and shock.
Wind Tower Update
Construction of the Country Garden wind tower has started. We had a bit of a delay but Dianna Duffley the company owner and project facilitator , jumped through the hoops and got rolling (or spinning in fact). The pad has been set , the trenches are dug and now we are awaiting the monopoles to arrive. It is a very exciting time in the world of innovative energy efficient green power , and very exciting to see it happen first hand. Please come by and see our project as it is happening.
Editorial
Life is about balance , with this it is always a good idea to look at our perspectives and find our motives behind what we do. I like a beautiful yard just as much as the next person , but I am not willing to subject my child or my health , or the health of the environment to go above the means to fight with Mother Nature. I take the good with the bad , and I let go of a lot of "stuff" . I have weeds in my lawn , I have weeds in my garden. I no longer lose sleep over what the Jones' think because ultimately I can not control their thoughts nor is it my job. I do however lose sleep over the idea that some things that neighbors do in their yard may affect my well water , or that the wind blows a certain direction , and I can smell the diesel from the highway. But again I am one person , and I can only do just so much. But collectively we can make a very big difference in how this world will last for us humans to thrive on. Thrive might be a strong word after being held hostage by Wall Street , but we have to start somewhere. We can make a difference , all it takes is one small step by each of us , and that adds up to be quite a big step. -Peace , Nan
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