December 2018       Volume 8, No. 6  

 

Hello Intrepid Gardeners,

Mother Nature has asserted herself again, with an early onset to winter this time.  Our crews made a valiant attempt to finish all garden work before the November 15th snowstorm but did not completely succeed.  Then we got back outside when the snow melted, making a mad dash to the finish line.  But still we didn't finish everything on the list at all clients!

Now what?

Some fall chores will have to wait until early spring, especially in higher elevations west of Rt. 495 where soils have frozen.  In my own yard in Townsend, for instance, I managed to remove all leaves from the lawn but only a portion of the beds.  Left in place, this leaf layer will provide good winter protection for the perennials and shrubs.  Snow cover provides further insulation from the temperature variances that we are likely to experience this winter.  I managed to cut down remaining perennials during a warm spell and plan to have a big spring leaf cleanup!  Some areas are still under snow.

Your soil amending and compost topdressing to beds, if planned but not yet executed, can wait for earliest spring.  Per NOFA Organic Land Care Standards, we cannot spread amendments on frozen soil due to risk of runoff.

Bulbs are another matter.  They can be planted anytime before the ground freezes.  If you were caught with unplanted bulbs, read more about how to force them outside in pots in this month's feature article.

Dormant pruning of trees and shrubs can be undertaken on dry days when temperatures are above 20 degrees and there is access to the plants, i.e. no ice coating or heavy layer of snow interfering with footing and set up of ladders.  Chipping of brush can happen on a dry day.

 

Credits will be issued with our next invoices for uncompleted, prepaid Tick and Mosquito spraying that could not take place due to the snowstorm.  Also a handful of clients did not have soil biology tests pulled in time; if prepaid, this cost will be credited.  The soil is now too cold to measure microscopic but important soil life.

My friends Brent and Becky Heath, owners of Brent and Becky's Bulbs in Virginia, shared this technique with me during a bulb seminar I attended at their headquarters back in March 2012.  It will work for the bulbs that you didn't get to plant in the ground this fall.

Gather a bunch of 2 gallon pots.  Fill with a shallow layer of potting soil.  Add 5 tulips or daffodils per pot at the 6" to 8" depth.  Cover with potting soil.  Label!  Set pots on the north side of your house and cover the pots with 6" of woodchips or bark mulch.  Let the pots freeze for 8 to 16 weeks.  Check on them in March when the snow starts to melt.  Gradually pull away the mulch over a period of a week or two.  Put the pots on your doorsteps when the shoots emerge.  Sunlight and occasional watering should encourage the bulbs to grow and bloom at the normal time!

For smaller bulbs such as Crocus, Grape Hyacinths or the like, use a shallow, wide "bulb pan" about 6" deep instead of the two gallon pot.  These bulbs should be planted at a depth of twice their size.

After bloom, these forced bulbs can be planted in the ground with a bit of bulb fertilizer for next year.

Peggy is our longest term employee and has been with Pumpkin Brook as a part-time gardener since 2002!  She has decided to retire this month.  All of us will miss her good humor, common sense, and can-do attitude along with her tremendous horticultural knowledge.  Please join me in wishing Peggy all the best in her "re-wire-ment."

We finished preparing winter greens in urns, window boxes, mailboxes and other empty containers just before all the soil in the containers froze up solidly!  But we can still help you with stringing holiday lights on trees, hanging wreaths or swags, and creating a festive look at your front door. Containers of greens, winterberry and colored twig dogwood can still be prepared if we work with empty pots and fresh soil.  All greens are sprayed with anti-desiccant to prolong life and prevent browning.  Please let Priscilla at phw@pumpkinbrookorganicgardening.com know if you would like us to help you catch up with your holiday decorating.