Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
by CK May is the month of flowers not just in the Philippines but also here in Calgary. A lot of my neighbors have done their spring cleaning and unfortunately I cannot cope up with them. I remember that during this time of the year my husband, Hank gets busier day by day. He takes care [...]
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Page added on November 20, 2009

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GARDENER’S CORNER – Early Grasp of Winter

This fall a blast of winter has descended on this part of the country rather early. Many trees and shrubs had leaves frozen on while still in a green state. I’m sure many are wondering what damage this may have caused. Deciduous trees were near their year end cycle and were only weeks from dropping their leaves. Some smaller branches may have sustained frost damaged but I doubt anything of any concern. Even fruit trees I doubt suffered if any only minor damage. I do recommend that you water your trees well throughout the fall. Shrubs may have taken more of a beating. Since in most cases branches are of softer wood, begin more prone to frost kill. All that can be done now is again water well for winter and in the spring prune out any of the winter kill. Roses and clematis are of very soft wood, prone to winter kill, need to be watered well before the ground freezes and covered with mulch and snow.

Most perennials were at their life cycle, any still alive would have succumbed, but the root system and crown would have remained undamaged. However I stress that you water your perennials well, tramp down the stocks to trap snow and moisture , spread mulch over more tender plants, dump as much snow on your planter beds as possible. Pay particular attention to beds underneath the overhang of your house, which tend to dry out faster.

Stocks and leaves of hollyhocks should be cleared away completely. Hollyhocks tend to harbour rust spores that survive on old plants that infect new growth the next spring, just dump snow on bare exposed areas. If you have perennials, trees or shrubs that need to be planted but you don’t have a place prepared for yet, just put the pot ,plant and all into the ground. Make sure to pack soil around the pot and root system leaving no air pockets, water well, mark with stakes for removal next spring. Survival will be in most cases 100%. All perennials that you have growing in containers need to be moved to flowers beds for the winter. Containers lack the volume of soil needed to winter a plant and dry out rapidly. Avoid dumping snow with road salt on your garden beds. Salt will destroy your plants and even grass. Those lumps of ice and slush that fall off your vehicle, aim them for the gutter. Never cut back evergreen perennials such as bergina, pinks and coral bell that remain green all winter. Cutting back these plants will prevent them from flowering next spring or may also result in their death.

That extra effort in the fall and winter will pay off come spring.

Happy gardening.

H.W. KRIASKI

GARDENER’S CORNER – Early Grasp of Winter

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