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Mid-winter checkups keep the garden going
Snow! It’s just what we gardeners wanted to help protect the plants in the garden. The new snow cover will provide insulation from really cold temperatures, which should help less hardy plants survive the below-freezing temperatures that arrived with the New Year.
After any significant snowfall, it’s a good idea to walk around the garden, not just because it’s a pretty sight to see, but because there might be some damage or potential damage to take care of.
Make sure that branches, especially on evergreens, aren’t weighed down by too much snow. If a branch seems to have so much snow on it that it might break, you can knock some of the snow off with a broom. But do it gently so that you don’t end up breaking the branch yourself.
Also inspect shrubs and young trees for signs of anything chewing on them. If you see something you suspect is rabbit or rodent damage, you can use chicken wire or other lightweight wire fencing to make a small fence to put around the tree or shrub that is being gnawed. It doesn’t have to be fancy and can be removed in the spring when rabbits and rodents are more attracted to the new growth of weeds and the vegetable garden for their food.
After the snow melts, look for signs of heaving, which sometimes happens when the ground freezes and then thaws. Shallow rooted plants, such as coral bells, mums and even strawberries, are especially prone to heaving out of the soil. This exposes the roots, causing them to dry out. If you see any plants that appear to have heaved out of the ground, gently push them back down into the moist ground using the heel of your shoe.
Whenever the snow melts, also look for the tiny sprouts of crocus and snowdrops, if you planted any in previous years. They sometimes begin to show up as early as late January in protected areas.
Finally, repeat this garden inspection after each snowfall and hope for an early spring!
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