Happy New Year!
It seems like there's nothing going on in the garden or yard this time of year, but when plants are dormant is the perfect time to assess your space and plan for the coming seasons. It's handy to create a map, no matter how simple of your lawn and garden spaces. As flowering plants start to grow and bloom add them to your map. It's a great way to see what plants come up when so you can determine where to add or subtract to create a garden that blooms all year long as well as planning for new gardens or eliminating ones that don't work.
Winter is also a good time to take a look to see where opportunities for winter interest plants are - that means, plants with evergreen foliage or interesting shapes or branches that make your landscape interesting to see when the showier blooms are still sleeping. Did you know, for instance that many species of hellebores bloom all winter long? Their evergreen leaves and delicate flowers make great plantings for borders to liven up an otherwise drab scene. As they grow, they can be split and spread so a small investment will go a long way.
Along with your map, creating a simple calendar will help you stay on schedule for planting, dividing and pruning. I'll be sharing this information each month making it easy to follow along.
January Tips:
If you feed the birds, don't forget water, which can be difficult to find in winter. Purchasing a low cost water heater and installing it in your birdbath provides an excellent source of water for birds. If you don't plan on heating the water in your cement birdbath, empty the basin for the winter to prevent it from cracking when water freezes and thaws. (Cover any outdoor pots as well to keep them from cracking!)
If it's been excessively dry you can water your plants. Just be sure to do it when the temperature is above 40 degrees.
Indoor plants can suffer from lack of humidity in winter too. Be sure to keep an eye on them, and water only when dry as a rule of thumb. A secret weapon for watering your indoor plants any time of year is seltzer! (Be sure not to use club soda since that contains salt)
So don't let winter get you down - Call me for your free consultation today and take advantage of the quiet time to plan your outdoor paradise today! (Also if you need a hand with snow removal or taking down the Christmas lights!) (973) 452-0354 or send me an email at rafaelvail86@gmail.com
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