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January 23, 2002

What's With This Weather?
It was just four days ago that the ground was covered with snow.  Today the temperature is hovering near 50 and there is very little snow to be found.  We seem to be riding a weather roller coaster.  It is tough to keep up and I can't imagine what some of my plants are thinking.  These sporadic warm-ups are not what we need right now.  It is important that our plants get their full winter's nap.  If these warm-ups continue, some of our plants will start believing that Spring is arriving early and will start to bloom prematurely.  Make sure that you have plenty of mulch on your garden beds.  This will help enable the ground to stay at a stable temperature.  If the temperatures continue to rise, I fear that we will all be in serious trouble.  The magnolia tree in our front yard started to bloom in November when the temperatures were so mild.  With warmer temperatures it may start to bloom again risking serious frost damage to new blooms limiting it's blooming period either slightly or altogether come Spring.  That Mother Nature is a tricky gal.  It is almost impossible to outsmart her so we need to be patient to see what she will deliver us next.  Patience is not one of my strongest virtues but as I grow older it does become a little easier.

Speaking of patience...  There's only a couple of weeks before the Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show at the American Royal.  We will be exhibiting of course and hope to meet many of our 3,000+ readers.  Please drop by to say "Hi"!    

Don't be fooled into thinking that last week's snowfall (a mere 4 inches) satisfied the ground's need for moisture.  The rain equivalent moisture from that 4 inches was a about ½ inch.  So the ground still needs moisture.  Make sure you are still watering!  Is anyone getting tired of me saying that?

~ Shelly  

Pruning Primer...
If you take advantage of winter to get some pruning done remember that when pruning large limbs, always undercut first.  This means cut from the bottom up, one-third of the way through the limb, then finish by cutting from the top.  The undercut keeps the limb from splitting and breaking off, which could damage the trunk and become an entryway for insects and diseases.  Also, don't cut flush to the trunk.  The collar or enlarged base of a branch produces hormones that help heal wounds.

Heave, Ho...
We've seen some interesting swings in temperatures lately.  While most of us appreciate the days above freezing, our plants may be less than thrilled.  The freezing and thawing of the ground can force shallow-rooted plants out of the soil.  This is called "heaving" and should not be a problem if you mulched well at the onset of winter.  If you see any signs of heaving among your plantings simply replant any that have heaved and mulch with 2 inches of organic material.  Those leaves that seem to linger all season are perfect!

Jade In The Shade?
Many Savvygardeners grow Jade plants because of their tolerance for low light conditions.  However, while jade will survive in low light, it needs as much direct sunlight as possible to look its best.  Insufficient light will cause your jade plant to lose most of its old, thick leaves and grow thin, new ones on spindly stems.  Not a good trade-off if you ask me.

 


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All-America Selection Winners
Each year the All-America Selection organization selects the best new flowers and vegetables based on carefully controlled trials across North America.  This year there were a total of 13 winners - five vegetables and eight flower cultivars.  Our friends at K-State Extension have posted this year's All-America Selections complete with photos.  Use the links below to see them:


Melting Snow Yields Clues...
It's funny how important the winter can be to gardening.  Last week's snow is long gone but did you notice where it melted away fastest?  Those are the sunniest and warmest spots of your garden.  After our next snow take note of these microclimates as they may be important for future plantings.  These warmer areas might be good choices for your more tender plantings or even a perennial that is only marginally suited to our zone.

 


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Winter Wisdom...
In the middle of this bleak season we call winter it's always nice to see Savvygardeners that have planted trees and shrubs to add interest to the winter landscape.  You'll find good advice on those that do well in our area in this week's Winter Wisdom... 

Pelleted Perfection...
You may find yourself perusing a seed catalog and come across something called pelleted seed.  Some mail order seed companies offer pelleted seed of lettuce, carrot, and a few other small-seeded crops.  Pelleted seed is like any other seed except that it has a special coating that makes it larger.  While almost anyone will appreciate the convenience of larger seeds it is especially valuable for children and gardeners with arthritic hands, weak eyesight, or poor coordination.  When using pelleted seed, plant in moist soil and keep it moist as the coating has to dissolve before the seed can germinate.

Finally...
"The cold was our pride, the snow was our beauty.
It fell and fell, lacing day and night together 
in a milky haze, making everything quieter as it fell, 
so that winter seemed to partake of religion 
in a way no other season did, hushed, solemn."

~ Patricia Hampl, Author

 

 

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