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PERENNIALS VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH THICK SNOW BLANKET
Most of us can list a dozen reasons why this winter has gone on long enough, and why we don't need any more snow. But look on the bright side - our perennials are very, very happy with that heavy snow cover.
Deep snow insulates soil so it doesn't freeze as deeply, permitting flowering perennials and marginally hardy plants to come through winter in much better condition than they would during a warmer winter with less snow.
I noticed the value of snow last spring when my Star magnolia bloomed on the lower branches that had been covered all winter by snow but was barren on the upper branches whose buds had been exposed to the winter's harsh northwest winds.
When the snow finally melts this spring, I predict that many of us will be delighted with the bountiful displays of leaves and flowers on all those plants that snuggled all winter under their blanket of heavy snow.
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Speaking of deep snow cover, I strapped on snowshoes and walked around my yard to check out the trees I protected last fall with a cage of chicken wire to deter rabbits. The top of the snow was about even with the top of the 18-inch wire cages, so hungry rabbits can now easily chew bark 2 feet above ground level.
Despite a nasty wind chill, I added some more wire caging to a couple of apple trees on top of the previous wire. There are days - not many, mind you - when high-rise (or southern) living might make sense.
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I read lots of farm magazines for my business. An article in Farm Industry News caught my attention; it described a new "nutrient absorption enhancer" called AmiSorb. When applied with fertilizer, the product causes root mass and root hairs of wheat, corn, soybeans and other crops to take up more nutrients and grow more tillers, leaves and stalks.
The product is derived from one of the amino acids found in aspartame (NutraSweet) sweetener. The article states that the mode of action of polyaspartates is not fully understood, but current theory is that their long chain molecules act as an extension of the plants' root hairs. Each molecule carries a negative charge that initially attracts the positive fertilizer ions and conveys them to the root system.
Trials at the University of Illinois and elsewhere suggest yield increases of up to 30% in cotton, corn and wheat.
Curious about whether the product has been used with garden vegetables or flowers, I called the company. Their research director hadn't returned my call by the time this column was completed, so I'll let you know in a future column if AmiSorb gets labeled for garden use. If and when they market the product to gardeners, I suspect they'll be able to count on me for at least one bottle!
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It's too early to start many seeds indoors, but here are a few that can be started in February and raised under fluorescent lights: begonias, coleus, geraniums, lisianthus, pansies and violas. Remember to use only new or disinfected containers and unused, sterilized potting soil. To disinfect used containers, soak them 30 minutes in a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part chlorine bleach.
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This is also a good time to prune most trees. Hire a reputable firm to prune large shade trees that may have been neglected over the years. Never have a tree topped - it's one of the saddest sights in the plant kingdom. New growth on topped trees will be abnormally weak and upright and the tree will never look natural again.
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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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