Though Chilly and damp weather prevails in most of the West in many places the weather brings suspense and surprise to the garden. For example, in the favored spots such as west of the Cascades winter and spring weather are in a delicate balance.
In California and the Southwest there is already a mildness in the air and the ground is not quite so cold. The buds are swelling on the fruit trees and there’s dramatic promise of color.
Planting Shrubs, Trees And Roses
In mild parts of the West, this month is one of the most important for planting. For unless rains beat down continuously, more kinds of plants can be set out now than at any other time of the year.
The nurseries are filled with healthy, bare-root planting stock – roses, fruit and ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, grapes, berry bushes and perennial vegetables.
In the Southwest it is possible to plant balled-and-burlapped nursery stock such as citrus, avocados, shade trees and subtropical fruits. However, it would be better to delay this operation for four weeks. Of course, all container-grown shrubs and trees can be set out now.
After selecting and bringing home nursery stock, get it into the ground as soon as possible. If rains interfere or you run out of time and have to complete the job the following weekend, be sure to heel in the stock so that the roots don’t dry out.
Lay the plants in a trench and cover all but the top with moist soil.
Camellias Are In Bloom
During the next three months visit camellia nurseries regularly, checking the varieties as they come into bloom. While it’s easy to buy camellias from a catalog, it’s often more fun to pick and choose after seeing the plants in bloom.
Pruning Dormant Plants
Now, before plants start spring growth, pruning should be finished. The fruit trees should be pruned first, for these can’t wait much longer. The roses are also important, except in the colder parts of the Northwest where their pruning can be delayed another four to six weeks.
Also prune summer and fall-blooming plants such as deciduous’ hydrangeas, chaste tree, dwarf pomegranates and snowberries. Keep the centers of the specimens open by cutting out the dark, old wood.
Spring-blooming plants, such as flowering fruit trees, forsythia and weigela, shouldn’t be pruned until they’ve finished blooming. However, you can cut branches of these shrubs now for forcing indoors.
Cut out the old wood from your berry plants, blackberry, boysenberry, youngberry and loganberry, and tie last year’s growth to the trellises. This years berry crop will be produced on canes which developed last year.
Staking Tree Roses
Be sure to stake the tree roses when you plant them. Also check the established specimens to see that they are well staked. Use stout stakes, about 1” x 1” inches or electrical conduit pipe. Let the support extend up into the crown of the plant so that it can be supported at the bud union. This will prevent the crown from breaking off in heavy winds.
Planting In The Vegetable Garden
While it’s true that now the soil is often too wet to work, there are sometimes periods of dry weather when it is possible to plant a few rows of peas, radishes, leaf lettuce, mustard, and salsify.
It’s a good idea to put out a few onion sets, too. Also plant a few roots of such perennial vegetables like rhubarb, asparagus, and horseradish. Once horseradish gets started, it tries to ramble all over the garden. One way to confine it is to plant the roots in a sunken bottomless pot.
Sowing Annuals
If you have a sunny window, coldframe or greenhouse, you can sow many annuals, thus beating the season by four to six weeks. These annuals include nasturtiums, schizanthus, gazanias and mignonette. Hardy annuals such as sweet alyssum, calendulas and stocks can be broadcast on the open ground.
Spraying Fruit Trees
Watch for plump, pink buds on peaches and nectarines. As soon as they appear the trees should be sprayed to prevent leaf curl.
Propagating Shrubs, Trees And Other Favorites
Start cuttings of deciduous shrubs and trees, ivy geranium, fibrous begonias, and other favorites. This is also a good time to layer low-growing branches of azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. It usually takes a full year for the roots to develop to the point where the branch may be detached from the parent plant.
Questions of the Month
Question: When is the best time to plant golden yellow callas? Does it take long for them to become established?
Answer: In California and the Southwest tubers can be planted now; they will bloom in May or June. In the Northwest delay planting for another six weeks.
Golden yellow callas are as easy to grow as the white ones. The clumps multiply quickly, needing division every three or four years. Don’t limit your garden to the yellow types. Try some of the miniature pink ones which grow about a foot high. These make good pot plants.