Preparing Shrubs Trees Flowers And Plants For Winter

Let's hope you made up a list of the tender things that should have been dug before frost. But unless you have had very cold weather and the ground is frozen there is still time to dig gladiolus, dahlias, fancy leaf caladiums, tuberous begonias, achimenes, tuberoses, tigridias, yes, even your large flowered amaryllis. Just because your glads happened to live over last winter when you forgot them doesn't mean that they will do it again.

If they are growing up against the house foundation where they are getting heat from the cellar it is possible that even some tender plants such as dahlias may live over from year to year. If you have any four o'clocks this year, try digging up some of those roots and storing them in slightly moist peat or sand in the cellar over winter. If you are successful you will get four foot high plants instead of three foot ones (but the colors will be just as unattractive).

There is still plenty of time to sow the seeds of hardy perennials and hardy annuals. Instead of trusting the ordinary flower bed I always like to sow them in a cold frame. The easier growing ones may be sown right in rows in the frame, but the less easy ones you may want to put in three-or four-inch flower pots. Instead of treating the seeds with a chemical, try putting a layer of equal parts fresh sand and new peat moss on top of the soil in the frame. This gives you a weed free, practically sterile seed bed. If you ever use it you are going to be amazed at the results. Just cover the seeds with the same material sifted through your second best soup strainer.

Seed Starting

If you have never tried growing your own trees and shrubs from seeds there is no time like the present to start. Try gathering the seeds of barberry, privet, honeysuckle, Washington thorn, cotoneaster, any of the privets. Remove the pulp from the seeds and sow the seeds about a quarter inch deep. I like to take ordinary tin cans and cut two or three holes on the side at the bottom with a beverage can punch to give drainage. Sow them in a mixture of soil, sand and peat; after labeling them just put them outdoors where they can get the winter rain and forget them. Seeds will start coming up, depending on what kind you have planted, from Mareh until June. You will have a lot of fun if you include some flowering crabapples and some of the varieties of Japanese quince.

Hope you didn't forget to drain the water pipes in your yard in case you have your yard piped as I do, so that a 50-foot length of hose will reach any part of it. Since I am lazy I don't like to drag around a hundred feet or more of hose.

As I visit gardens here and there I am always disappointed that so few have a little nursery bed, even three by six feet where plants raised from seeds or cuttings may be grown. Instead the gardeners put them in among bigger plants where they have all too little chance of survival. A small nursery bed really pays big dividends. Place it away from trees and large shrubs, in a well drained spot. Prepare the soil at least ten inches deep by mixing it with equal parts of soil and peat. Maybe even add quite a bit of sand. How the little plants will grow in this mixture if you add a complete fertilizer at the time you prepare the bed!

About the Author

We've created an outstanding resource for you on the topic of croton house plants. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/crotons-colorful-plants-indoors.html.

Previous Article - Next Article

Add Your Picture

Article Submitted By: Keith Markensen
Subscribe To: Keith Markensen Rss Feed
This Article Has Been Read 19 Times

Publish/Share this article

Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.

Preparing Shrubs Trees Flowers And Plants For Winter Let's hope you made up a list of the tender things that should have been dug before frost. But unless you have had very cold weather and the ground is frozen there is still time to dig gladiolus, dahlias, fancy leaf caladiums, tuberous begonias, achimenes, tuberoses, tigridias, yes, even your large flowered amaryllis. Just because your glads happened to live over last winter when you forgot them doesn't mean that they will do it again. If they are growing up against the house foundation where they are getting heat from the cellar it is possible that even some tender plants such as dahlias may live over from year to year. If you have any four o'clocks this year, try digging up some of those roots and storing them in slightly moist peat or sand in the cellar over winter. If you are successful you will get four foot high plants instead of three foot ones (but the colors will be just as unattractive). There is still plenty of time to sow the seeds of hardy perennials and hardy annuals. Instead of trusting the ordinary flower bed I always like to sow them in a cold frame. The easier growing ones may be sown right in rows in the frame, but the less easy ones you may want to put in three-or four-inch flower pots. Instead of treating the seeds with a chemical, try putting a layer of equal parts fresh sand and new peat moss on top of the soil in the frame. This gives you a weed free, practically sterile seed bed. If you ever use it you are going to be amazed at the results. Just cover the seeds with the same material sifted through your second best soup strainer. Seed Starting If you have never tried growing your own trees and shrubs from seeds there is no time like the present to start. Try gathering the seeds of barberry, privet, honeysuckle, Washington thorn, cotoneaster, any of the privets. Remove the pulp from the seeds and sow the seeds about a quarter inch deep. I like to take ordinary tin cans and cut two or three holes on the side at the bottom with a beverage can punch to give drainage. Sow them in a mixture of soil, sand and peat; after labeling them just put them outdoors where they can get the winter rain and forget them. Seeds will start coming up, depending on what kind you have planted, from Mareh until June. You will have a lot of fun if you include some flowering crabapples and some of the varieties of Japanese quince. Hope you didn't forget to drain the water pipes in your yard in case you have your yard piped as I do, so that a 50-foot length of hose will reach any part of it. Since I am lazy I don't like to drag around a hundred feet or more of hose. As I visit gardens here and there I am always disappointed that so few have a little nursery bed, even three by six feet where plants raised from seeds or cuttings may be grown. Instead the gardeners put them in among bigger plants where they have all too little chance of survival. A small nursery bed really pays big dividends. Place it away from trees and large shrubs, in a well drained spot. Prepare the soil at least ten inches deep by mixing it with equal parts of soil and peat. Maybe even add quite a bit of sand. How the little plants will grow in this mixture if you add a complete fertilizer at the time you prepare the bed! Article Source: <a href="http://www.allbestarticles.com">AllBestArticles.com</a> About the Author: We've created an outstanding resource for you on the topic of <a href="http://www.plant-care.com/crotons-colorful-plants-indoors.html" />croton house plants</a>. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/crotons-colorful-plants-indoors.html.

Rating: Not yet rated

Preparing Shrubs Trees Flowers And Plants For Winter

About the Author

Publish/Share this article

More articles in this Category

Drip Irrigation Boon to the agriculture and plants

The Traditional Wooden Garden Shed

Lean To Greenhouse? The Broke Mans Method

Spend your Working Day in the Garden

Eco-Friendly Demolition

The Value of a High class Garden Topsoil

What You Need To Know About Driveway Planning Permission

Revolutionary Way To Grow Plants By Using LED Grow Lights

Enjoying Window Garden With A Year Round Color

Garden care - Cucumber Diseases and Pests

Preparing Shrubs Trees Flowers And Plants For Winter

Rain Water Tanks: We have enough rain in Melbourne to catch and save!

Various Reasons Why You Should Opt For Lawn Sprinkler System

Useful gardening tips

How to Build a Chicken Coop Cheap

Poly tunnel Cultivate your plants in a suitable tunnel

The Advantages Of Special Event Florists

Hilly Backyard Usable Outdoor Living Space

Use Your Imagination With Garden Paving Slabs

Beautify And Protect Your Home With Garden Walling

Create An Attractive Yard With Paving Stones

Good Garden Design

Vines Indoor Decorations

The Secret To Using Storage Shed Plans

The Big City Features Garden Decorations

Landscape And Real Estate Makeover

Lending a Strimmer

Amateur Gardeners Share Christmas Roses Experiences

Landscape Evergreens - Garden Elegance And Bird Hang Out

Organic Gardening And Its Many Benefits

Main Menu

Main Categories

Useful Resources

Stats