| Snow Damaged Plants |
|
This year's record snow fall has certainly had an impact on our landscapes. Many of us have noticed sagging and broken branches, as well as damage to our plants. While much of this damage is temporary, damaged plants are more prone to disease and insect attacks so it is important to get outside for some early spring gardening.
While plants are still dormant and the temperature is above freezing, trim back all of the broken, cracked and sagging branches. Pruning the problem areas will energize the plant and hopefully result in vigorous growth throughout the spring. For larger cracks that cannot be pruned, you might try taping the branch together. Additionally, severely sagging branches may be tied with string to help stabilize the plant. |
| Sign up for our Newsletter! |
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Welcome to "The Dirt", our brand new, monthly newsletter, packed full of gardening tips, trends and inspiration for all of your "green pursuits". Be sure to check out our links for additional resources and ideas, but, most importantly, dig-in, don't be afraid to get a little dirty and enjoy!
Sincerely,
Melissa Jones & Tim Salafie
Architectural Gardens, Inc.
800-280-2103
|
Be Inspired
A Spray of Spring Inside Your Home
Eager for the for the beauty of flowering trees brought by spring's warm weather? Well, try your hand at forcing blossoms inside your home. March is an ideal time to prune your forsythia, quince, dogwoods, crab apples, flowering cherry, spirea, saucer magnolia, pussy willow, witch hazel and lilacs and force these cuttings to burst into bloom. By following these simple steps, you will have a spray of sunshine in no time!
- Use pruners or knife to cut 2'-3' heavily budded branches, slicing diagonally just above the bud
- Strip flower buds and small twigs from the bottom few inches of the stems. Slit up the stems, a few inches or mash gently with a hammer to allow for absorption of water
- Some types of branches may bloom more quickly if submerged in tepid water for a few hours
- When planning your arrangement, keep in mind the natural beauty and architectural detail of both the flowers and the branches. When arranging be cautious about overcrowding the branches
Water in your arrangement should be changed every few days, at which time the stems should also be recut. When the temperature remains between 60-70 degrees, blooms should appear within 2-6 weeks. Still feeling impatient for that hefty dose of spring? You might try moving your arrangement to sunny location which should provide a boost for your blooms.
Enthusiastic to replace the gray of winter with the lively colors of spring, ourselves, we would love to see your handiwork. Please forward photographs and/or comments to info@arch-gardens.com
|
Living Green
Sustainable Landscaping is.....Conservation of our natural resources, preservation of our "sense of place", and protection of our wildlife.
- Meadows not mowers
- Rain gardens not storm water runoff
- Native plants not invasive plants
- Harvesting water not wasting water
- Encouraging wildlife not destroying natural habitats
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) not
mindless pesticide applications
- Composting not discarding
- Organics not chemicals
Contact AG to learn how we can make your
landscape sustainable.
|
About Architectural Gardens, Inc.
Thank you for your interest and support. Please share our newsletter with your fellow gardening enthusiasts. Enlightenment is always welcomed, feel free to email your thoughts or ideas to info@arch-gardens.com or simply click the feedback button to send us a message. For more information regarding Architectural Gardens and the services that we offer, please visit our website at www.arch-gardens.com
| |
