Let’s Get Ready for Winter!
My apologies for the delay in getting this out to you. Maureen and I have been totally consumed by a project the last few days, and I couldn’t get to writing the newsletter in the usual timely fashion. But, I am super happy about the way our project turned out – and I hope you’ll agree! Scroll down to the end of the newsletter to see what we were working on – and see how you can help us with it!
Jennifer
In this month’s issue of Let’s Get Gardening
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In this month’s issue:
We’ve been really lucky with the weather we’ve had lately. The temperatures have mostly been above average, and we haven’t seen a whole lot of snow (in spite of the picture above, taken in my yard shortly before Thanksgiving). For Southeast Michigan, that’s pretty amazing, considering it’s already December. If you haven’t had a chance to get all of your fall clean-up chores done in your yard or garden, you probably still can – but don’t wait too long: you know we’re really pushing it with the weather. What can you still do?
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- Believe it or not, there’s still time to plant bulbs in SE Michigan. With daytime temperatures like we had this weekend, and the expected highs in the low forties and mid- to upper-thirties for the next 10 days or so, the ground hasn’t frozen yet, so take the opportunity to get in some last-minute bulbs. If you don’t want to plant them outside, you can also force some bulbs indoors this winter.
- Once the ground has frozen, pile mulch on top of your perennials to help protect them from changing temperatures throughout the winter. Frost heave can cause damage to plants when roots are pushed up out of the soil as the soil “heaves” up when freezing causes it to expand.
- Consider spraying evergreens with an anti-desiccant to help keep them from drying out in the cold winter winds. When the ground is frozen, plants can’t take up water, and evergreens especially can lose what water they do have when it’s windy. An anti-desiccant puts a thin, waxy layer on the needles that helps the plant retain moisture.
- The other thing to do to help keep your evergreens from drying out is to give them a wind screen. Burlap is a
great choice, because it allows some air flow, but provides protection from the worst drying effects of the wind. Drive stakes into the ground before the ground is frozen, and then attach the burlap to the stakes – I use cable ties, commonly referred to as “zip” ties. - The University of Minnesota Extension has a really good article on protecting your plants from all kinds of winter injuries, which can include things like wind, sun, ice, snow, and animals.
- It looks like we may be spared the extremely cold temperatures this winter, but may be in for some significant snow, if the weather people can be believed. If that turns out to be true, be careful about removing snow from tree and shrub branches.
- During winter, birds can use all the help they can get in the form of food, water, and shelter. Keep you feeders full, so that the birds don’t have to waste precious energy searching for food. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has an article on feeder placement and plantings that can provide shelter for your birds while they are feeding. While you’re stuck inside this winter, you can use this to make plans for what to do in your yard in the spring!
- Clean out birdhouses, and leave them out all winter, if they are not susceptible to breakage from freezing temps. Birds will be thankful for an empty birdhouse to huddle together in to keep warm at night.
- Consider putting a de-icer in your birdbath, so that your birds have a source of fresh water all winter. Or, consider a heated birdbath, which keeps even more of the water in your birdbath ice-free.
Happy Gardening!
Store News & Specials
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One of our favorite events of the season – Chelsea’s Hometown Holiday – is going to look a bit different this year (like lots of other things this year!). And while we won’t be having the light parade, or breakfast with Santa, there will still be lots going on in Chelsea to celebrate the season. On of those things is the Main Street Light Pole Decorating Contest, and we’re participating!
As you drive or walk through downtown Chelsea this month, you’ll see that the light poles on Main Street have been decorated in lots of fun and beautiful ways. You get to vote for your favorite, and we hope you’ll vote for ours (this is the project I mentioned at the top of the newsletter). Maureen and I had a lot of fun working on this, but we have to give a shout out to Chelsea Lumber Company for all their help in getting the materials pulled together, and Maureen’s sister, Karen, for helping get the final product up on the light pole.
Cast your vote for your favorite!
Holiday greens are in, but they’re going fast!
