What could you possibly do now, besides pouring through all of those lovely gardening books and magazines?
We know if you haven’t already you are getting ready to pull that live Christmas tree down & get the house cleaned up from all of the holiday festivities?
Did you know that you can trim the branches off of your Christmas tree and use them to insulate your perennial heather?
Depending on the variety of Heather you have will dictate the bloom time of this perennial. It is a fairly hardy plant in itself, though just like us, sometimes it needs a helping hand.
Tom Dayton of Dayton Nurseries in Norton recommends that you take the Christmas tree and trim off the limbs. Take these limbs and use them to place over your Heather plantings. This will act as an insulator for the Heather. Of course you are going to ask me – Michelle, there is snow on the ground and on my heather, do I wait until it melts? I asked Tom Dayton this same question, his response – Yes do it now – This will prevent sun scorch on the heather when the snow melts and the tissue is damp and vulnerable. When a new snowfall arrives your Heather will be tucked in for the long haul. Remove these boughs in the spring once the snow has ceased – we will give you a reminder then.
You do not have Heather but are still planning on removing the Christmas tree? If you have a place in your yard to pile some of the limbs up – the wildlife will love it! This gives them a place to hide out from predators and the wind, rain, etc. You can remove them in the spring once the weather breaks. Some critters will also use the limbs and needles for nesting material.
You could donate your live tree to someone with a wildlife habitat or to a municipality that will use them for mulch or to add to lakes and ponds for aquatic life.
If you have left the stalks up on your Blue Angel Hosta I can guarantee the song birds are enjoying them!
With the weather breaking a bit towards the end of this week – there is still time to plant bulbs! As well as plenty of time to get your equipment cleaned up and ready for another glorious season in the sun!!! Stay posted as we will bring you tips on cleaning up the equipment as well as what to watch out for this season with your lawn.
Have a question? Do not hesitate to write in!
Whatever you do…make this a year of conscientious choices….after all…we are all in this great wide world together!!
