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OKAY, WISE GUY: WHAT ABOUT THOSE LEAVES ON THE SNOW...
Someone questioned my advice from a couple of columns ago...remember that labor-saving tip to mulch your leaves with a lawnmower, rather than raking and bagging them?
It seemed to make sense at the time. Trust me, on the day I wrote that advice I didn't anticipate that so many leaves would cling to trees well past frost, then drop after snow completely covered the ground. My yard looks like a giant white nature quilt with thousands of red oak leaves decorating the silent blanket of snow.
What's the proper action now? Should we put the tire chains on our lawnmowers, shift them into 4-wheel drive, and watch the snow and leaves fly? How about mowing the lawn with the snowblower?
I asked a Dial U horticulturist about the late leaf drop. She told me the late-clinging leaves on red oaks, fruit trees, ginkgo and several other species have her and her peers scratching their heads.
"We're not certain what the cause is, but we're suspecting that a combination of climatic factors confused trees and delayed the hardening off process," she said. "The abundant soil moisture during the late summer and fall, very gradual cooling rather than any abrupt signal for trees to harden off, and heavier than usual clouds may all be contributing factors."
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It's not too late to plot some defense against your neighborhood "critters." During the next four months, deer, rabbits and other animals will pay much closer attention to your trees, shrubs and other woody perennials than you will. Next spring, you'll be able to observe what sharp teeth and voracious appetites our furry friends had during our Minnesota winter.
I have less of a deer problem than many of you, but I'll put my rabbit population up against any challenger. Rabbits have a double row of incisors on the upper front jaws that produces a cleanly severed twig. Deer have no front incisor teeth on their upper jaw so a deer-cut twig will have a frayed edge on one side.
Best material for protecting shrubs is hardware cloth (wire mesh). Plastic tree wrap may be easier to work with for saplings and small trees. If your problem is rabbits, voles or mice, make sure the wire extends from the ground to 1 ft. above the snow line. For deer, you may have to cover the entire plant up to six feet.
While you're constructing your defense against the winter browsers, don't forget to wrap the trunks of fruit trees and young maples to prevent sun scald - the vertical splitting of bark caused by rapid afternoon to evening temperature declines. The tree wrap reflects the sun and keeps the bark at a more constant temperature. Start the wrap at ground level and wind it around the trunk so it overlaps. By starting at the bottom, the overlapping seams will shed, rather than collect, moisture from rain and melting snow. Extend the wrap up at least six feet or until you reach the lowest branch.
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I like garlic. I like being met at the kitchen door by waves of garlic rising from my wife's stir-fry. One time at a restaurant, another diner and I ate a whole side dish of roasted garlic cloves.
Despite my fondness for garlic, I've never considering growing the plant. A recent discussion on the Internet suggested that garlic cloves can be planted six weeks before a hard freeze so roots have a chance to develop in the fall. I missed my chance this fall, but maybe I'll give it a try next year.
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The end of the line is near for Spud, my 11-year-old golden retriever. Maybe that's why this list of things we can learn from a dog caught my attention...hope you enjoy it too.
1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
5. Take naps and stretch before rising.
6. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
7. Be loyal.
8. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
9. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
10. Bond with your pack.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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