The practice of protecting plants is not new. Over the years, many reliable methods have been devised. New materials are lending the gardener still other weapons in his fight against Old Man Winter. Factors of Winter Injury Many factors cause winter injury. First in importance is the loss of moisture from any part of the … Read more
Garden plants are shielded against frost and drying winds in various ways. Earth is hilled around roses, boxwood, and exposed broadleaved evergreens are screened with windbreaks, and strawberries are mulched around their crowns with light, airy materials (buckwheat hulls or salt hay) before severe freezing weather arrives. Roses By The Sea Salt spray is so … Read more
Each fall, to add variety to winter windows, I pot a few annuals to bring inside before the nights become too cold. First Gilliflowers Last year, I potted an annual stock (gilliflower), which was a great success as a houseplant. The first gilliflowers I ever saw were at an old abandoned farm in New Hampshire. … Read more
Proper precautions are necessary for a successful wintering of perennials, bulbs, ornamental shrubs and trees, fruit trees, and berries, where reasonably severe winters are normally expected. Seasons vary, and the homeowner who is just starting will surely get valuable advice from his neighbors who have had many years of experience under similar conditions. Moreover, they … Read more
Planning ahead is important in any type of gardening. In greenhouse gardening, it is doubly so because the non-producing areas— scarcely noticed outdoors—are as conspicuous as sore thumbs in red flannel. Several plants that are easily grown from seed may be started now to provide abundant color for winter. Ideal Showy Plants For Winter Cineraria, … Read more
It took my wife and me several years to learn that not everything will grow in a cool greenhouse. Hopefully, a gloriosa tuber, African violets, gloxinia seedlings, and Christmas poinsettias rushed to our greenhouse and just sat there from October to March, waiting for spring weather. We finally realized that they needed warmth. After experimenting, … Read more
One way to have a successful garden is to ensure it goes into the winter adequately cleaned and prepared. Although many gardeners fed that last-minute planting and thorough cleaning are sufficient, more than that is needed to protect plants sufficiently to make them survive. Winter Protection For Plants Winter protection aims to guard plants against … Read more
Let us hope that this winter will not be like the last. The worst was that even if we had expected it, we could do nothing to save our plants from that sudden freeze following a very late summer in November. But there are some precautions we can and should always take. Precautions For Plants … Read more
It is time to begin bringing the pots of bulbs planted in October out of storage and starting them into production. The pots should be filled to “overgrowing” with feeder roots. The bulbs produce foliage and flowers quickly when brought into a warm place with lots of light. The actual time is ten days or … Read more
Looking back on the year in my garden, it was extremely cold all last winter. Many plants I expected to be damaged by the cold were not, and they bloomed prolifically. Confederate Jasmine Confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) bloomed floriferously. None of my old tea roses were damaged without protection, not even the more tender ones … Read more