JOHNSTON COUNTY HOME HORTICULTURE
With the rush of the holidays over, and the occasional warm day
sneaking
in, many of us are getting 'ants in the pants' to get back
outside and work in our
gardens. So, let's hop to it!
TREES, SHRUBS & ORNAMENTALS
- Cold, dry winter winds can remove
moisture from the soil and from plant tissues very quickly.
Newly-planted plants are especially susceptible to drying. Dig a
few
inches into the topsoil around the plant: if the soil is dry, water is
needed.
- Remember: Watering just before a cold snap can help plants
survive bitter
temperatures!
- Check bare shrubs for insects - They often
overwinter or lay their eggs on the twigs of plants (ie.
bagworms
).
Remove and destroy them before they hatch in the spring.
- Protect plants from weather extremes. Wide swings in
climate -
balmy breezes one day, arctic blast the next - can be really hard on
plants. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-604.html
- Check holiday plants
and gift plants for insects
before
locating
them near
your other plants.
- Enjoy winter-blooming perennials such as Rosemary,
Erysimum
(wallflower), and Hellebores. Evergreen ornamentals and shrubs,
especially those with berries, add color to the winter landscape.
- Amaryllis
blooms best in tight
quarters.
Use a pot that
provides
only about
an inch of space from the bulb to the sides of the container.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8529.html
- Enjoy those catalogs - but beware glowing claims of "blooms all
summer," especially from companies based in northern states. Some of
those plants really are great, but some are not well adapted to our
growing conditions! Look for key words like "heat resistant" or
"tolerates humidity." Talk to Master Gardener Volunteers for
information on plants that are well
adapted to our area.
- Trees and shrubs infested with scale or spider mites can be
treated with
a horticultural oil which works by smothering pest eggs, larvae,
and
adults.
- Clean up fallen leaves and build a compost pile.
Do not
include
leaves
from diseased plants.
- Thinking about growing plants indoors under fluorescent lights?
Four-foot
tubes are generally the cheapest; mix cool white tubes with warm white
ones to provide a wider light spectrum.
- Divide perennials like daylily
, shasta
daisy and peony
when the
ground
is dry enough to work.
- Prune broadleaf evergreen shrubs such as holly and boxwood.
- Winter-blooming camellias (Camellia japonica) should really start
to show
off this month, but after the show, rake up and dispose of fallen
flowers
to help discourage camellia petal blight.
EDIBLES
- Beets, carrots, peas, lettuce, mustard, radish, spinach, irish
potatoes,
and turnips can be sown outside as early as the beginning of
February.
- Grow cold-tolerant leafy vegetables such as lettuce,
spinach, and
collards
. Some may be killed by frost, but
it's worth it to have fresh
greens for salads. Try planting greens in with your pansies for a
pretty and useful winter garden.
- Mulch strawberry beds for winter protection with a layer
of
wheat straw or pine needles 2-3" thick. Pull the mulch back when blooms
appear.
- Asparagus crowns can be planted now through March.
- Order seed catalogs, and plan your garden. Choose
disease
resistant
varieties.
HOUSEPLANTS
- Let your houseplants rest. The four major causes of
houseplant
deaths during the winter months are over-fertilizing, over-watering,
under-watering, and improper light. Most houseplants are semi-dormant
in the short days of winter, so do not fertilize them. Your plants will
rest and be ready for vigorous growth in the spring.
- Keep an eye
out for indoor insect pests; most can be controlled easily with
insecticidal soap.
- Check stored bulbs, tubers, and corms such as dahlia,
caladium,
and
gladiolus. Soft rotting tubers indicate too much moisture; discard any
that are soft, and move the healthy ones to a drier place. Shriveling
roots and tubers indicate that the tubers are too dry, so slightly
moisten the material in which they are stored.
Thanks to the Durham County Extension Office and
'Successful
Gardener'
for their generous contributions to this list.
HELPING PEOPLE PUT KNOWLEDGE TO WORK.
Got Questions? We've got answers!
Contact us.