Spring is coming

The groundhog Phil saw his shadow in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pa. and predicted six more weeks of winter, but there is a lot that can be during these last cold weeks of winter.

Snow and ice on trees and shrubs 

In winter, the threat of damage from snow and ice is always near. When snow piles up on evergreens, try to gently brush it off. Don’t shake the branches as this may cause them to break. If the snow is frozen on the branch and will not brush off easily, it is best to let it melt naturally, to avoid damage to the tree or shrub.

If tree limbs break due to the weight of ice or snow, it is advisable to have the broken limbs removed as soon as the weather permits. Hanging branches can be a danger to passing pedestrians. Also, the tree will be able to heal the wound better in spring if the wound has clean edges instead of ragged tears.

Seed orders 

If you order seeds from a catalog, get your order in by the end of January. Early orders help insure that you get the seeds you want and that you have them in time to start them indoors if you want.

Warm spells in winter 

Sometimes in the middle of winter, there are suddenly a few warm days. For the most part, this is not a big problem, but you may need to check on a couple of things. If you covered your roses with rose cones, you may need to ventilate the cone to prevent heat from building up inside. The same should be done with coldframes. If it is a warm, sunny day, the temperatures may be rising in the cold frame more than you expect. Remember to close vents as the temperature drops again at night.

Prepare Garden Equipment for  Spring

Avoid the spring rush by having your lawn mower and other gardening equipment serviced or repaired now. Winter is also a great time to clean, sharpen and organize your garden tools.

Winter Garden Cleanup

Winter is a good time to do some light garden cleanup. Remove dead plant material from the garden beds and pick up leaves that are left over from fall. Toss them into your compost bin, or use them to mulch around perennials.