End Of The Year Ramble

Winter for me is a necessary evil and I hate it. But, it is the end of the 2010 gardening season for sure and time to put everyone and everything to bed.

As I did my last walk around the garden for awhile, I couldn’t help but notice the plants that were already up and ready for 2011. At the point where the pithy stem from last year’s sedum stood, a rosette of new succulent leaves had already pushed out of the ground and were at the start line. In August, there was nothing to see of last summer’s oriental poppies but now the new foliage sat well above the ground soaking up the cold but bright sun.

Below the large areas, dead chrysanthemum twigs, covered with the leaves of the oaks and maples, and mats of new mum foliage blanketed the ground. As I looked at them, my horticultural mouth watered and I had to stifle the urge to get out a spade and divide them once again. Soon enough, soon enough.

But there was more. The dwarf bamboos, though discolored, were full and lush as they will be for many more weeks. They look ragged in the spring as this year’s foliage dies, only to be rapidly replaced by the new and quickly emerging shoots in May.

All of the columbines are up with rosettes of foliage a few inches to nearly a foot in diameter and the September-sprouted seeds that will produce flowering plants in 2012 are only quarter-sized but hardy enough for the winter.

The hostas are a withering mess of mush but right next to them the short stiff foliage of the early primulas are all set to go and the perennial geraniums ramble here and there but not a withered leaf. At the end of the long border, the new foliage of next year’s lupines push up through the leaf litter with large droplets of glistening rain clinging to the foliage that for now is horizontal enough so the drops nearly levitate and defy gravity.

This is not to say that any of this will survive the winter. But even if last week’s foliage is damaged by cold and ice, most of the plants will survive and revive. What can help is a light mulch of maple leaves or a thin layer of salt hay or seed-free field hay. This light mulch will keep the winter sun from burning the foliage and will keep the warm rays off the ground so the ground remains cold and stable.

The worst thing for perennials, and probably roses, at this time of the year is the continuing freezing and thawing of the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil. As it gets even colder, a bit more mulch can be added and just left in a fluffy state until late, or very late, winter.

The best winter protection though, has always been and will always be, snow. Just be careful what you wish for.

There is one perennial that may be in your garden or woodland that has some nice foliage now that you will want to yank right out of the ground. The foliage of garlic mustard, a biennial weed, is up all over the place and the foliage you leave behind will result in flowering and seeding plants that will proliferate beyond your wildest nightmare if you don’t hand them pull now or very early in the spring. If you don’t know what it looks like just Google it then go out and pull—root and all if the ground isn’t frozen.

You may remember from last winter that there were plenty of evergreens and shrubs that would have benefitted from any form of winter protection.

Foundation plantings around homes were crushed and mutilated by heavy snow falling from roofs while junipers, yews, boxwoods and hollies were ripped and crushed by snow loads. Evergreens, especially pines along roadsides where lots of salt was used, were burned and damaged while the deep snow caused the deer to forage on plants many of us thought of as immune from browsing.

Some protection can be afforded to shrubs, like boxwoods, by surrounding them with burlap and by making burlap roofs over the plants. Install them at an angle that forces the snow to fall away from the top of the plant instead of onto the crown. We did this for years, wrapping all the large boxwoods with burlap and tying them with heavy twine. It looked awful, though, and the boss hated it so three years ago we began a different method.

Once it got really cold, the boxwoods were thoroughly sprayed with an anti-desiccant that protects (though this is still being debated) from the cold and dry winter wind. The plants are then bundled with synthetic twine that’s mostly green. By the time the guys are done, each boxwood is neatly wrapped and tucked for winter.

You still see the green, and while the plants are in a “compact” state, they look soooo much better than being burlapped. Tying them up is an art and probably needs to be done by experienced hands—like the ones who know how to ball and burlap a root ball. The twine is left in place until the last thread of snow is gone and on a cloudy day they are unfurled.

So far, in three years we haven’t lost a twig. This method not only looks nicer but it’s less expensive. Down near the ocean they still have to use the burlap sarcophagus wrappings on the taller evergreens and hedges. Talk about expensive.

As I mentioned, the jury may still be out on the use of anti-dessicant sprays but it’s a bit of insurance that I always use on rhodies and azaleas. I don’t think there’s a downside, except the white cast from the stickers used (adhesive coating). And don’t forget that when you use a sticker with thiram added, you have a very effective deer repellent as well. You may be able to get away with one application in December but we try to get another one on in mid-winter.

And by all means, don’t forget your deer repellents. Apply them often, use several different kinds and alternate them. If you have deer fencing, keep it in good shape while remembering they can push under just as easily as jumping over, so use a stiff bottom wire.

Did you remember to stake your driveway? Do it now or get your lawn plowed again.

All your hoses in? Don’t leave a hose attached to a frost-free hose bib.

Watch out for bugs on your houseplants. Water your Christmas tree every day. And no, poinsettias aren’t poisonous to you, your children, cats or dogs.

Have a very happy holiday. Keep growing. And see ya next year!