PROTECTING PLANTS AND OTHER FEBRUARY GARDENING TIPS

Mom Nature could also be taking a nap this time of yr, however that doesn’t imply you may. February brings its share of difficult chores for gardeners, many regarding the climate.

If snow cowl is mild in your space, it’s possible you’ll want so as to add further mulch, akin to a thick layer of straw or evergreen branches, to guard panorama vegetation. Simply ensure you don’t put straw round woody vegetation if mice are close by as they’ll nest within the straw and strip the bark off the vegetation, which regularly ends in the demise of vegetation. You can also place wood teepees over valuable perennials or windbreaks round timber and shrubs for defense.

If snowfall is heavy, maintain your roof raked between snow storms to stop issues with ice construct up that will not solely harm the roof however the panorama vegetation rising underneath the eaves. When raking the roof, attempt to not pull that load of snow immediately onto panorama vegetation beneath the eves because the pressure of the falling snow can crush vegetation and break branches until already coated by a deep layer of pure snowfall. Once more, teepee-shaped wood frames could also be your greatest safety.

To stop harm to vegetation from the settling snow, gently scoop the snow away from the plant with a shovel. Then, with gloved palms, fastidiously take away the snow from the branches.

When shoveling your walks and driveway, put the snow in your perennial plantings as it is a good insulator. Simply keep away from, if potential, piling a number of ft of snow on them when plowing since it would take so lengthy to soften in spring. And don’t dump snow on them if dangerous salt is combined in.

Pay further consideration to the wants of winter birds. If you’re feeding them, test feeders each few days and fill as wanted. Black oil solar flower seed and white millet will entice cardinals, goldfinches, black-capped chickadees, purple finches, white-breasted nuthatches, and different Vermont birds to your yard. Corn on the ear, shelled, or cracked is a favourite of many different species together with blue jays and mourning doves. Put out suet truffles for the woodpeckers.

Don’t neglect to scrub the feeders periodically as moldy seed could make birds ailing. Flush out outdated seed and particles then scrub with a combination of water and chlorine bleach (one ounce of bleach per gallon of water). Rinse effectively and permit to dry earlier than including new seed.

In between cleanings, when refilling hanging feeders, shake to dislodge compacted seed. Dump out moist clumps of outdated seed. Sweep hulls off platform feeders every day.

If potential, present a supply of water for the birds. A heated birdbath is right. Buy one with an automated shut-off valve or warmth biking on-off swap, which can forestall harm to the birdbath if goes dry. Use a grounded, three pronged outlet to stop the potential for electrocution. Keep away from birdbaths which have an uncovered heating ingredient as this might burn the birds’ ft in the event that they land on it. Putting a flat piece of shale over the heating ingredient (even a coated one) will present a heat rock for birds to perch on to relaxation or drink and can forestall any unintentional harm.

To stop cats, raccoons, squirrels, and different animals from knocking over the birdbath when making an attempt to get a drink, be certain the bathtub is securely located. In case your birdbath has a hole base, you may fill it with sand to stop tipping, for instance.

This Valentine’s Day neglect the same old bouquet of roses, and provides your partner or particular good friend a present that retains on giving. Order a rose bush from a mail order catalog or your native backyard middle with a supply date at planting time. A few purple ones to think about are Champlain, one of many Explorer sequence out of Canada, which is hardy within the hotter components of Vermont, and Mister Lincoln, a traditional purple hybrid, which isn’t hardy in many of the state however would make a terrific rose and shrub for the season. There are lots of extra hardy shrub ones to select from, so ask the consultants at your native full service backyard middle. Or contemplate giving your particular somebody a lilac bush, rhododendron, or different easy-to-grow decorative shrub?

For house dwellers, select a flowering potted plant like an azalea or cyclamen. An African violet stands out as the good selection for an workplace colleague as its compact dimension makes it appropriate for a desk or window sill. It additionally thrives underneath synthetic mild. However no matter you choose, make sure to embrace a card with directions for care.

In fact, in the event you want to offer minimize flowers, you aren’t restricted to long-stemmed purple roses. Tea roses are a pleasant various, and rather less costly if finances is a priority. You possibly can get them organized within the normal Valentine Day colours plus cream, lavender, and peach.

Or give flowers with a coded message. White roses stand for love and sweetness, purple ones for ardour, and yellow for friendship. Yellow tulips imply you’re hopelessly in love. Need to let somebody know that you’re a secret admirer? Then ship gardenias, which characterize secret love.

Ask your florist to create an association of purple, white, and pink blooms, akin to purple tulips, white carnations, and pink roses, in a pretty vase. Or go for one thing extra unique, like a bouquet of freesia, alstroemeria, or purple anthurium accented with shiny inexperienced foliage. Simply anticipate to pay a bit extra for these extra uncommon, out-of-season flowers.

If the recipient is a gardener, say “Joyful Valentine’s Day” with a small wicker basket full of packets of vegetable seeds, gardening gloves, and different garden-related objects–row markers, for instance. Or give a certificates for a therapeutic massage–for use throughout planting time after “gardening” muscle tissue get labored for the primary time since final summer season.

Though it’s nonetheless too early to start out most seeds indoors –exceptions embrace begonias and pansies, which take a very long time to develop–in the event you’re within the temper to develop one thing, plant a mini-orchard in your window sill. Simply don’t be too dissatisfied if the timber fail to supply good fruit. These indoor gardens are extra for leisure than for meals.

Plant recent apple seeds in a well-drained soil combine. Water frequently, present loads of solar, and repot as essential to accommodate development. Hopefully, by early summer season your tiny timber must be able to plant open air.

February can be an excellent time to do some cyber-gardening. The very best place to start out is with one of many Web search engines like google like www. google.com . Simply kind in your topic, and click on on any of the websites listed to learn extra in your chosen matter. It is a good technique to find out about new flowers, fruits, and greens; “journey” to lots of the fabulous gardens on the planet; or get concepts on your subsequent backyard. To be taught extra about perennials, go to Perry’s Perennial Pages at http: // www.uvm.edu/~move/perry/

If you wish to “speak” to different gardeners, be part of a dialogue checklist. Try Backyard Spiders Net http: //backyardgardener.com/ the place you’ll not solely discover hyperlinks to dialogue teams however to plant databases, societies and associations, and extra Web assets on gardening.

Different actions for February: make plans now to attend the Vermont Flower Present to be held the primary weekend in March on the Sheraton Lodge and Convention Heart, S. Burlington; purchase a brand new houseplant–one thing you’ve by no means tried to develop earlier than; replenish on provides and hold develop lights for beginning seeds subsequent month.

PROTECTING PLANTS AND OTHER FEBRUARY GARDENING TIPS

By Dr. Leonard Perry and Lisa Halvorsen n Extension Nursery and Greenhouse Crops Specialist College of Vermont