Winter is here! 12 2 08
The gardens are asleep for the winter - at least we're hoping they're sufficiently insulated. If you have any doubt (i.e. too little ground cover - snow or mulch) it's not too late to provide protection with whatever materials you can get your hands on at this late date (mulch, straw, leaves, orsnow from other parts of your yard). Keeping tender perennials and other zone marginal plants insulated throughout the winter is important for their survival. Mulch and snow provide an insulating barrier from the cold and reduces the heaving that results from freeze-thaw cycles. Winter is a great time to start planning for your spring garden: what plants to add, what plants need to be divided, etc. Also, winter is the best time to prune many trees, and March is a great time to prune shrubs (such as hardy roses, dogwoods, spirea to name a few) or thin small ornamental trees before they leaf out and you can't see what you are doing. So get out your garden books and magazines, grab your favorite beverage and start thinking about how great your garden can look next spring!
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