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Gardening, Flowers and House Plant Care
The Garden Helper's Guides to Growing
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Winter Gardening, Frost, Ice and Snow
Hi! I'm Wild Willy. Welcome to The Garden Helper...
Weather conditions can bring about a frost, even in supposedly frost free areas. It is important to heed the warning when your local forecaster announces a chance of frost, and take precautions to protect the plants in your garden from frost damage.
We've had a few warm days recently, and some of the bulbs in my garden got the foolish idea that spring was near and poked their heads up.
Tonight the temperature is going to drop to 20° and snow is on the way for the weekend, so I'm heading out to cover them back up with a layer of compost and a thick layer of mulch.
Mulching is an excellent use for the branches of your discarded Christmas tree.
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In the event of snow, be sure to shake or brush off the white stuff from the branches
of your evergreens and shrubs. The light fluffy snow poses no real threat,
but if it should become wet and frozen, the weight dramatically increases.
Branches are more brittle when the plants are dormant, and the weight of the snow may snap them off.
What else should you be doing in the garden this month?
Feed the Birds!
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Please! Feed the birds and other small critters that may not be able to find food due to snow on the ground or other causes.
For only a few dollars you can feed an enormous number of birds.
You'll want them to stick around to help you in insect control when the weather warms again.
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Caring for House Plants in Winter |
Winter heating dries the air out in your home considerably.
Help your house plants survive by misting them or placing the pots on a pebble filled tray of water to ensure adequate humidity and moisture.
Keeping your plants near an aquarium will help as well. |
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Most house plants go dormant during the winter months and should be watered less, then be allowed dry out before watering again.
Clean the foliage of your House Plants regularly with a damp cloth to remove dust.
This will not only help the appearance of your plants but will help the plant to breathe, and remove some of the pests that tend to gather on the underside of the leaves.
Continue to watch for insects or disease damage and take the necessary steps to control the problem.
You can still pot up some spring flowering bulbs for indoor color during the winter. Store the pots in a cool, dark place, until new growth emerges from the soil, and then move them to a bright window. |
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Create a Special Valentine's Day Gift
Have you been pondering a gift for someone special?
Do you want to tell them a little bit more than just that you are a great shopper?
While expensive gifts are nice to give and to receive, why not add a little something extra this year to let that special someone that they are extra special?
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Two or three hours is all that would be needed to take a quick trip to the garden mart
to shop for the appropriate plants, pick up your landscaping materials,
return home and put together a simple Dish Garden or a Terrarium. |
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Forsythia, Jasmine, Pussy Willow and Flowering Quince sprays can be cut and brought into the house for forcing, as soon as the buds begin to swell.
The warmth in the home will bring some early bloom to your room. |
I hope that you enjoy all of your visit to The Garden Helper! Please come back soon...
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The Butterfly Garden at Cedar Hill
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Most of the photos you'll find here at The Garden Helper are of
plants and flowers growing here at the Gardens of Cedar Hill. Click on them to enlarge.
B.T.W... If you ever happen to wander off the garden path and get a little lost while you're here,
just give any Garden Gnome a click and he'll be happy to bring you right back here.
I'll be waiting to help you get back on the right garden path...
Have a great gardening day!
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