As spring approaches, it is time to start to think about what maintenance needs to be done to the landscape. Spreading new bark, cleaning up debris that blew in over the winter, and cutting down any remaining perennials that were left up over the winter for added interest. When cutting down your ornamental grasses, you may encounter a situation were there is a hole in the base of the grass…
Read MoreSoil Temperature
When thinking about plants and snow and what is going to happen, we often think about the weather. Something that is often overlooked is the soil temperature. The soil temperature can play a big role in what is going on outside with our plants and the snow. During the winter, the soil temperature/ground temperature can dictate how much of the falling snow sticks to the ground. If the surface temperatures…
Read MoreBenefits of a January Thaw
Just about every year, we will thaw out during the winter. We lose the pretty snow cover, and what snow is left turns dirty and brown. It is clearly aesthetically displeasing, but it is quite beneficial for the plants in our landscapes. We know that our plants need water throughout the growing season, but did you know that they need water during the winter also? It can be quite dry…
Read MoreUSDA Zone 5
Have you ever looked at a plant at the nursery and wondered what the USDA Zone means on the label? It may say something like USDA Zone 3-8. What is that all about? We will go over what it means, and what to look for if you are choosing plants on your own. The higher the zone number, the less cold tolerant a plant is. Zone 1 is the most…
Read MoreA Warm Winter Snow Blanket
As the temperatures have turned colder, we head in from working on our landscapes. Now we like to find a warm spot in the house when we relax in the winter. It could be with a cup of hot chocolate, it could be by the fire place, or it could be curled up under a blanket. The snow that falls becomes a nice snow blanket for our landscape plants. The…
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