The weather outside may be cold, but there is something that can be done in the garden this time of year. Winter is an ideal time to prune your shrubs, for several reasons. The lack of foliage on the shrubs allows you to view their structure, giving you an idea of how much pruning is needed. Pruning shrubs during dormancy is less stressful for the plant, compared to pruning during the growing season. Pruning in late winter allows the wounds left by the pruning cuts to heal quicker, reducing potential disease or insect problems down the road. Why Prune Shrubs? […]
Category: Winter Gardening
8 Tips For Bringing Houseplants Indoors For The Winter
As cooler temperatures settle in, it’s time to bring houseplants back indoors. Here are some helpful guidelines to make the transition successful. Temperature 45°F is the tipping point. When nighttime temperatures start to dip consistently you need a plan to tuck in your houseplants indoors for the winter. Cleaning Wash plants and pots thoroughly. Hose off all foliage, sides, and bottom of the pot. Pest Control Attempt to remove any unwanted pests or critters that have taken up residence in or on your plant. If you are finding some soft-bodied pests like aphids, spider mites, or mealy bugs, spray the […]
4 Gorgeous Plants That Bloom In Winter
We don’t necessarily think of winter as the ideal season for gardening. This is particularly true if you live in a relatively cold part of the country. However, while it is true that gardening tends to be an activity reserved for the warmer months, it’s still possible to do some gardening in the winter. Many flowers and plants actually bloom during this season. The following are a few examples to keep in mind! Tip: Winter is also a good time of year to confirm you have all the lawn and garden equipment you need. Restock now to avoid realizing you’re […]
Cool Season Crops: Growing Tips
Plucking a bright red, plump, and juicy tomato off the vine with the warm summer sun beating down on the back of your neck is the type of pleasant act most folks associate with gardening. There is no question that warm weather crops like sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon are some of our favorite and most recognizable types of produce that we love to harvest out of our gardens. However, the other half or more of the veggies we love to grow are known as cool-season crops. What Are Cool Seasons Crops Cool-season crops prefer to grow in temperatures […]
Tree Pruning Techniques & Best Practices
The best time to prune fruit trees is when they are in a dormant to semi-dormant state in late winter to early spring. It is important to do tree pruning during late winter while trees are not actively growing, and neither are disease pathogens. Remember, pruning stimulates growth, if done too early in winter and severe cold weather ensues, trees can be damaged or even killed. Do not rush it. As long as the tree buds have not broken, the tree is dormant enough for pruning. The pruning process is basically the same for ornamental trees as it is for […]
Winter Rose Care
There are multiple methods for providing winter protection to roses. These guidelines provide an overview of the options and include enough information to successfully winter rose plants in cold climates. Rose Hardiness Roses vary quite a bit in their cold hardiness across different rose classes and even among different varieties in the same class. Gardeners in cold climates should take care to choose varieties appropriate for their hardiness zone, to minimize the need for too much extensive winter protection. All but the hardiest shrub roses may require protection when grown in cold climates where winter temperatures fall below 0°F (zone […]
Gardening Tips for Winter’s Early Arrival
When you have had 10 days or more of below 30° degree nights, what could possibly be left to do in the garden except dispose of dead plants and flowers. Oh, don’t you worry, we’ll find more work for you. Frost Loving Vegetables Perhaps you are fortunate enough to be in an area where you are still babying a good flush of frost hardy veggies. Arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, onions, radish, swiss chard, spinach, and turnips are all stalwart against early frosts. Kale, cabbage, chard, arugula, and brussels sprouts for sure, convert their bitter tannins […]
Guide to Winter Mulching
Why Mulch the Garden in Winter? During the warmer months, mulch helps to prevent garden weeds and retain soil moisture. At Jung Seed, we recommend fall and winter mulching to protect your garden through harsh weather conditions. It also helps your garden regrow in the spring with more vigor. Winter mulch is essential for gardens located in colder climates. Benefits of Winter Mulching There are many benefits of winter mulching, which include: Protects plants from freezes, thaws, and harsh winds Stabilizes soil temperature Keeps plants in a protective dormant stage Prevents plants from triggering growth during sporadic warm spells […]