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January 2, 2002

A New, Fresh, White Start
January is here and we are experiencing our first snowfall.  The boys awoke this morning with sheer delight in their voices loudly hollering up the stairs to awaken us with "It snowed, it snowed!"  Kevin and I have a skylight in our bedroom so we could see the snow softly falling from the sky.  Noah (5) wanted to immediately put on his snow gear and build a snowman.  It's a little difficult to tell a 5 year-old that there is barley enough snow on the ground to make a snowball.  After minutes of prodding I said "OK", jumped out of bed, put the snow gear on and out we went.  Jacob (3) had decided that it was too chilly for him to be outside, snow or no snow.  Our loyal dog Sam Parker accompanied us for his morning walk and was delighted with the white stuff called snow.  I must say that it is always so much fun to watch a dog run and snort through the snow and that is exactly what he did.  Noah was laughing out loud because Sam Parker was sporting a beard of snow on his chin.  Although Noah liked the snow he did not like the cold.  After about 15 minutes he said that it was time to turn around and head for home.  He had decided that if there was not enough snow on the ground for making snow balls and a snow man that he could just as easily stay inside and view the landscape from the warmth of the family room.  He is my child.  I am not fond of the cold. I like the snow as long as the temperatures hang around in the 30's with no wind chill.  Nothing wrong with wanting a perfect outdoor environment.  If it can't be Spring, Summer or Fall than it might as well be bearable.  Don't you agree?

For all of you procrastinators, this is last call for the Philadelphia Flower Show.  The deadline has passed to take advantage of our group rate but if you are still wanting to go call Mariann Vandenberg, 913-648-0858 or email Travelberg@aol.com. She will be able to assist you with your reservations.  Kevin and I will be attending so don't wait any longer.  We would love the company of other Savvygardeners.

~ Shelly  

Peek-A-Boo...
Some foolish bulbs and perennials may have been tricked by our abnormally mild late-fall temperatures and started to sprout new growth.  Now that the bitter cold has arrived you can bet they wish they'd stayed underground.  Help them out by gently tamping the soil at their bases and apply an additional several inches of protective mulch to cover them.  They should be fine come spring.  

Get To Know Your Garden...
Start the new year right by keeping a daily gardening journal.  As an interesting record of the season's progress, use a soil thermometer and check soil temperatures in your flowerbeds, lawn and vegetable beds.  Write them down each day.  You'll be amazed how much better you will "know" your garden after making this a daily ritual. 

Asking About Ashes...
A common question this time of year concerns the spreading of wood ashes from the fireplace into the garden.  Many gardeners have heard that wood ashes increase soil pH.  While this is technically true it would take very considerable quantities to have any significant effect on pH.  Just spread them as evenly as possible and try not to overdo it.

 


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Pruning Oak Trees...
January is a good time to prune your oaks.  The trees are dormant, pruning wounds will not bleed, and the insect vectors for oak wilt disease are inactive.  When you feel like it's not too cold to get outside and work take your pruners and saw and clean up those oak trees!

Wired For Winter...
If you planted new trees last fall check any guy wires you may have used to secure them.  Stakes may need to be re-secured if they have been heaved out of the soil by frost.  Also, make a note to remove the guy wires in spring after root growth has started.  Trees that move with the wind grow stronger than those supported for too long.

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Boughs For Beds...
Most of our readers are no doubt disposing of a Christmas tree in the very near future.  Why not put that tree to some beneficial use?  Evergreen boughs are great insulators and can be effectively used as a mulching material on flower beds. 

Even The Snow Is Dry...
Don't be lulled into a false sense of precipitation security by that meager snowfall we just experienced.  Dry, low density snow like yesterday's will generally yield about 0.1 inches of water per inch of accumulated snow.  We received about ¼ inch of snow.  Do the math.  We got nothing.

If and when we get a good mid-winter thaw Savvygardeners will be the ones giving their lawns and perennial beds a good soaking.

Finally...
"Nature chose for a tool, not the earthquake or lightning to rend and split asunder, not the stormy torrent or eroding rain, but the tender snow-flowers noiselessly falling through unnumbered centuries."

~ John Muir, Writer, 1838-1914

 

 

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