Winterize your Backyard Landscape plants

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Dec 042010
 

The foliage and roots of trees, shrubs and plants can be damaged by extreme cold and even lead to the death of your plants. And often the plant may not die but may need trimming to remove the dead parts or it will grow slowly for several years while recuperating.

This can be discouraging after spending time and money grooming your landscape and creating a backyard retreat. Plan ahead to help protect your plants and keep them healthy during the cold winter season.

  • Create a donut shape of mulch around your plant. This acts as a circle of protection for the roots. In the fall it’s quite easy to find leaves, pine needles or composted straw for mulching.
  • Keep mulch 1 or 2 inches away from the trunk of the tree. If you place the mulch directly up to the tree it can cause problems for the tree trunk and bark. Place the mulch 2 to 3 inches deep.
  • Cover any broad-leaf plants. Start by driving four stakes into the ground surrounding the plant. Make sure the stakes are at least 6 inches from the plant. Your plants need room and you also want to make sure not to stake into the roots.
  • Place breathable cloth over the stakes and ensure that no leaves on the branches of the plant come in contact with the sheet. To easily do this I use a wire cage I have created from old recycled window screens or old netted fencing. If your plant comes in contact with the cold fabric frost damage may still occur.
  • Remove cloth coverings from your plants as soon as the weather warms up. Leave the stakes in the ground in case the weather turns cold unexpectedly. I keep covers close by just ion case I need them for a cold night.

Plant care tips:

Remove damaged or dead branches from your tree during cold weather. This helps to relieve stress on the tree. It will also lead to a healthier, more vital tree.

Mulch may block moisture from reaching the roots of your plant. I water the area well before I apply the mulch and water the plant regularly before the cold set in to stay. If you live in a warmer area, check moisture levels at least once a month, even in the dead of winter. Where I live, unless we are having a warm winter, this is not necessary.

Do not use plastics to cover your plants. Plastic may cause a slight greenhouse effect inside the covering. This will make the temperatures inside the covering change between hot and cold sporadically, damaging your plant.

With a little planning and care your landscaping plants will survive cold temperatures and add beauty to the lawn for years to come.

Posted by Denise at 1:36 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Fall Pruning of Flowering Shrubs and Trees

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Aug 212010
 

Fall is the best time to prune many shrubs and trees. Primary growth is done for the year and the plants will be going into a resting time so the pruning actually helps them.

With any pruning its best to read about the shrub or tree in questions and prune accordingly.

There are many people who do not feel they should prune plants. That it hurts them. But pruning to keep a nice shape and remove damaged, diseased or a branch that crosses or crowds each other is so beneficial to a tree.

Here are a few pruning tips:

Prune shrubs and trees only to retain the shape or remove damage or disease.

Do not prune spring-flowering shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendrons in the fall. Pruning spring-flowering shrubs will remove the blossoms that have already begun to form and you will actually have fewer flowers the following year. Prune these right after the plant has had flowers.

I see many flowering shrubs that have been over-pruned. They do not need to look like a skeleton and show every branch. Over-pruning can be damaging to the overall health of the plant.

After pruning the shrub or tree make sure to pick up all the trimmings. If any of the shrub or tree shows disease, burn this material to stop the spread of any infections. Healthy trimming can be added to compost piles or used around shrub and tree bases. I prefer to let them sit a bit and then use in my perennial beds.

Posted by Denise at 11:04 am  Tagged with: , ,

Check your trees and shrubs in the fall

 landscaping  No Responses »
Aug 102010
 

Fall is the time to take a look at your trees and shrubs and see what care they need. Depending on your summer they may need pruning or tender loving care to make up for a stressful summer. In my area we had intense heat and lack of rain so I know my plants need new compost and additional fertilizer to help with the strain of the summer temperatures.

My first plan is to check the plants for any damaged branches and remove them. Then it’s time to give them a good soaking and a liquid fertilizer. I prefer my own compost tea mix. It’s chemical free and packed with nutrients.

Next after the ground is thoroughly soaked I will apply a new thick ground cover to keep the moisture in and add additional nutrients to the soil.

If my plants look weak or tired I will check them over for any disease or root problems.

So far my trees and shrubs seem fine but a few seem to be heading for an early leaf loss. I have noticed this in many trees and shrubs in this area.

If you have a plant that really looks sad contact your local Master Gardens group or an Extension Office for help.

This is also a great time to analyze your backyard landscape and add any new shrubs or trees. If you plant them now they will have time to acclimate to their new surroundings and begin to grow roots.

And one final note: If you need to prune trees or shrubs, do it in late fall or winter before the new growth of spring has started. The exception to this general rule is spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs that should be pruned immediately after flowering

Posted by Denise at 9:24 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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