Winter can seem like a good time to just curl up on the couch and enjoy your fireplace because, let's face it; it's cold out there. But in reality, it is a very important time of year to take the preventative steps to assure a great summer yard and garden.
Clean up those fallen leaves. This prevents insects that are living on the leaves from having a comfy home to bed down in for the winter while preparing a spring attack on the lovely fresh spring greenery.
Pruning is an important task for trees and flowering shrubs. It is best done in the winter when the plants are dormant and leafless for shaping. Also, the sap is not flowing heavily so there is no shock. This pruning will yield a healthier, stronger plant and increase fruit or flower production in the spring.
Winter is the only time to treat for peach leaf curl and shothole fungus by using a cooper preventative spray. Wintering pests can be eliminated on dormant fruit trees by spraying with an oil spray. Make sure you check out the new Bayer Advance Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control (Yes, I did say for fruit trees) that kills insects that chews on or sucks juices from leaves. You place the granules around the base of the fruit tree and the roots absorb the insecticide distributing it into the leaves. The insecticide stays in your tree protecting for 12 months without affecting the fruit.
Prepare your flowerbeds or garden plot for next spring by working soil amendments into the ground to strengthen and enhance production. Steer manure or our Harvest Supreme soil amendment products are great and will bring you big returns next spring.
It's rose planting and pruning season now. Stop by, check out our selection of bush, tree and miniature roses. The roses come in pulp pot containers that can be removed, or to help protect the roots you can place in the ground, pot and all, after cutting an X in the bottom. If you have any questions about pruning existing roses or need information on the best way to plant and care for new roses, just ask one of our friendly, helpful nursery staff.
Last of all, lets not forget about our lawns. January (February if it's a really cold winter) is the time to apply a crabgrass preventer product. Crabgrass preventer is available with or without fertilizer. The application of this product now will prevent crabgrass and other weeds from germinating and invading your lawn in the spring.
The time is now to come to Ace to get all your questions answered because these important winter steps, done now, will reap great rewards for your lawn and garden this spring and summer.
