A little extreme to be planting a tree!!

I have always said, and will continue to say forever, that wintertime is the best time to plant just about everything, but there is a question that always gets brought up, “Is the ground to wet?”  That is an excellent question and a very important one to keep asking yourself.  When the ground is too wet, it makes it very difficult to pack the soil in around the root ball during installation.

So is there a fix to the problem of the ground being to wet?  I believe there is, but it involves one extra step to the installation process.  If you plant a bush or tree in the really wet soil, you must pay close attention to how the soil packs back in around the roots.  Also, as the ground dries out, it shrinks some because of the lack of water.  The way to insure proper installation is, when the shrinkage occurs, take your shovel and foot back out to the plant and double check for any air holes around the root ball, or if the backfill dirt sank and you need to add a little more dirt to the top, then add more dirt.

Planting with moisture in the ground can dramatically increase survival of any plant because it lessens transplant shock.  Just be sure to double check your work and you should have a beautiful garden in the spring.

Happy Digging

Urn with Permanent Shrub

I know of many people who want to have urn type pots on their front porch but don’t want to replant them every year with annuals, so they plant them with permanent plants like shrubs.  That works really well and looks good most of the time.  They always do a really good job of watering in the summertime, but wintertime is where they can kill their plant the fastest.

Several things occur in the winter which most people do not realize.  First is the pot is usually under shelter and does not get the rain water like yard plantings get.  Again, they realize this in the summer when they know they have to water.  The second thing that is critical to the survival of a plant in a pot, is it must stay wet.  It is the same reason why Eskimos can stay warm in an igloo in the arctic.  There is a concept of thermal warmth that occurs inside an icicle. This means the roots of the plant need to have plenty of water around them when the soil gets below freezing.  The water actually protects the nature of the roots and will keep the plant alive.  If the roots completely freeze while the roots are bone dry, the plant will die.

There is a happy balance though of these potted plants.  You can overwater and drown the plant.  The reason this can happen more often in the winter is because the pot does not dry out as fast.  It is critically important for you to pay attention to how much water you are giving the plant and how warm the weather is outside.  Stick your finger way down into the soil to check the moisture content often.

One more thing about the pot you are using…make sure it can withstand the outdoors.  Water freezing inside of a glazed or non outdoor pot will destroy the pot in one winter.

Happy Potting

Cutting back Knockout rose bush

It is so confusing many times what bushes can be pruned heavily, which to barely touch, when can you do it and when should you not.  I completely understand and many times if you have not experienced it, you just won’t know.  I am having many people asked me about pruning their knockout rose bushes.

Knockout Roses are extremely hardy and an excellent landscape plant for any area around the house.  The only downfall I have experienced with a knockout rose is how fast it grows.  I have never seen one grow taller than about 5 ft, but at 5 foot, it can really be invasive if put in the wrong spot.

So how can you prune them to keep the size under control?  I use gas hedge shears to prune mine just like I would a boxwood or a holly bush.  Hand pruners would allow you to be more specific with your cuts.  Just prune them in the shape you want them in.  If you want them narrow, trim them narrow.  If you want them round, trim them round.  The plant is VERY forgiving when it comes to pruning.

How much can you prune them?  That question is very simple.  They are able to be cut down to ankle high if you choose and they will recover.  Obviously, you will damage the character of the plant, but it can be done and it will recover nicely.

When is a bad time to prune a Knockout Rose?  So far I have not found a time of year that is a bad time to prune one.  If I had to pick a time, it would be in the spring when it is full of buds, only because you are cutting off your first bloom cycle.  Again, the plant will recover, but you would have just slapped it in the face!

Happy Roses

This is a little more than a bonfire!!!

I have had many of my friends on Facebook and Twitter responding to my last post and made some really good suggestions in addition to my mine about what to be doing in the winter.  I talked about some fun and good projects to be doing in the winter while the weather is cooler, and here are some more suggestions…

• Garden Sheds
• Plant Potters
• Any Maintenance work
• Build Snowmen
• Put up Christmas Lights
• Have a Bonfire

Thanks to all those that responded with great suggestions.  Let me know what projects you suggest for the winter and let me know what projects you are currently or will be working on soon.

Happy Winter