Grasses and winterberry in the snow.

Just another month of cold, ice, and snow to come... When the snow stops, consider taking a walk through your property to enjoy it!
 

As you walk, look for plants that are showing excessive strain from the weight of the snow. In those cases, very gently remove the snow from those bent limbs. However, leave the ice alone to melt off naturally; forcing it off is more apt to damage the plant. Also consider using "pet safe ice melt" as it is also safe for your plants and soil. Try to avoid walking on the lawn as doing so may cause dead spots in it in the spring.
 

After the snow melts, when you can see the ground again, head outside again and look for piles of late-falling oak leaves, other wet plant debris, and foliage still clinging to your roses, peonies, iris, or daylilies. Removing it all now will minimize the opportunities for insects and diseases to thrive and spread.
 

While you are looking at the ground, observe if any perennials' roots have heaved out of the ground during our numerous freezing and thawing spells. If so, gently replant them (only after the surrounding soil dries out) and add a little extra mulch around each crown. Verify your roses are still wearing their winter mulch coats too.

Now is also the time to prune diseased or broken tree and shrub branches before they come out of dormancy.  Restoratively pruning fruit trees should also happen by early March, before they break dormancy.
 

Cedar apple rust gall. Photo by Edward L. Barnard, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org.

Finally, the last task on your winter walk is to look for signs of disease or insect infestation. Look for cedar apple rust galls on junipers; bagworms on crabapples, arborvitae, spruce, juniper, and oak; and black knot on cherry and plum trees. Cut the diseased branches off immediately. If you see scale on your pines or magnolias, apply a dormant oil. Another pest to look for is the tent caterpillar.  If you see their gray egg masses in branches, remove them too. But only remove gray masses! Tan egg cases are often the beneficial praying mantis that you will want to leave alone.
 

Left to right: Bagworm cocoon, black knot, and magnolia scale.   Photos by William Fountain, University of Kentucky (left and right), Mike Schomaker, Colorado State Forest Service (center), Bugwood.org.

 

 

 

If the snow does stop and the soil dries out before we chat again, please do water your evergreens and any fall-planted plants.

As always, we would be happy to do any of these tasks for you if your fingers get too cold...or if you want to keep enjoying winter from indoors!
 

Necklaces by Allison L. Norfleet Bruenger. Barren Tree with Patina (left), Falling Flowers in Copper (right).