February Newsletter
A warm hello from the depths of winter!
“I know him, February’s thrush,
And loud at eve he valentines
On sprays that paw the naked bush
Where soon will sprout the thorns and bines.”
Thinking of greenery and blooms this time of year brings mixed emotions of hope and impatience. “Just a few more months until the witch hazel and hellebores bloom” sounds both promising and disheartening. For our team, it’s a much needed time for reflection and planning the upcoming season.
We dove into 2022 full force both in the design office and out in the snow-covered gardens. We took extra precaution against the desiccating gusts and cold for our tender new evergreen plantings and the gardens that face blustery winter winds. We use a product called Wilt-Pruf, which is sprayed on the foliage of broad-leaf evergreens (rhododendrons, kalmia, azaleas…) and narrow-leaf evergreens to prevent excess moisture loss. This “anti-desiccant” has proven successful in years past, especially after summer and fall droughts.
This is also the time of year when deer and rodents become desperate for food. Deer will browse on nearly anything that peeks out above the snow. They are particularly fond of evergreens and young shoots, resulting in misshapen shrubs and barren stems. You can identify deer browse damage by stripped foliage or the frayed breakage on stems. Rodents, on the other hand, will munch on the bark and roots of plants (like in the images below). If they damage the cambium layer (the nutrient and water transport system), the plant could be irreparably damaged.
We suggest using a combination of several go-to deterrents for deer and rodents. A simple diluted cocktail of soap and cayenne pepper (or that inedible hot sauce that’s sat in your cupboard for years) sprayed on the foliage and stems should do the trick. Hanging bars of fragrant soap is also an effective way of warding off the browsing deer. Finally, sonic repellants produce high-frequency sounds to irritate rodents (skip the solar- and battery-powered ones for winter). If the deer and rodents seem to outsmart all your defense techniques, we’d recommend hiring a pest control expert. For deer, there are local businesses who will spray a non-toxic deterrent that lasts several months.
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Unlike the deer and rodents of our white wilderness, we will be outside this month pruning and shaping plants in helpful ways.
In their deep winter dormancy, we prune the deciduous trees and shrubs of any branches that cross, have died, or are structurally and visually awkward. Though it can be a chilly task to prune in February, it’s certainly easier to see the overall structure when we aren’t climbing through dense foliage.
We plan to update you monthly about our upcoming tasks and any pests, diseases or seasonal issues. If you are worried about any of your plants or have any midwinter dreams about your garden that you’d like to discuss, please reach out.
All our best,
The team at Garden Life
