Mandy won a $15.00 Wedel's gift card and you could too! Just be the first to respond with the correct answer to our monthly trivia question.

Congratulations, Mandy!! 

Last year Southwest Michigan experienced a long winter of below normal temperatures and over 100 inches of snowfall. The "experts" are predicting a colder than normal in temperature but a less than normal snowfall for this coming winter. At first glance I am excited about the notion of leaving the snow shovel hanging on the garage wall a little more often, but truth be told the heavy snowfall last winter actually helped protect our plants. They had a better layer of insulation than we did.

 

A harsh winter is often responsible for severe damage to landscape plants. Snow and ice can break branches and bring down entire trees. The wind, sun, and cold temperatures can dry out and bleach evergreen foliage, damage bark, and injure or kill branches, flower buds, and roots. Winter food shortages force rodents and deer to feed on bark, twigs, flower buds, and foliage, injuring and sometimes killing trees and shrubs.

 

Cold temperatures can damage plants in several ways. Plants that are not as hardy in Michigan, such as Rhododendrons, can be injured or even killed during the winter unless protected. Plants that normally grow in Michigan may also be injured if winter conditions are abnormally severe or if plants have been stressed by the environment. Injury is more prevalent and more severe when there is little or no snow cover during the winter or when low temperatures are of prolonged duration.

 

Sun scald is characterized by elongated, sunken, dried, or cracked areas of dead bark, usually on the south or southwest side of a tree. On cold winter days, the sun can heat up bark to the point where cambial activity is stimulated. When the sun is blocked by a cloud, hill, or building, bark temperature drops rapidly, killing the active tissue.

 

Young trees, newly planted trees, and thin-barked trees (cherry, crabapple, honey locust, linden, maple, mountain ash, plum) are most susceptible to sun scald. Trees that have been pruned to raise the lower branches, or transplanted from a shady to a sunny location are also sensitive because the lower trunk is no longer shaded. Older trees are less subject to sun scald because the thicker bark can insulate dormant tissue from the sun's heat ensuring the tissue will remain dormant and cold hardy.

 

Sun scald can be prevented by wrapping the trunk with tree wrap. The wrap will insulate the sun and keep the bark at a more constant temperature. Put the wrap on mid to late November and remove it in early March. Newly planted trees should be wrapped for at least two winters and thin-barked species up to five winters or more.

 

There are several ways to minimize winter injury to evergreens. Winter injury can often be prevented by constructing a barrier of burlap or similar material on the south, southwest, and windward sides of evergreens (see figure below). If a plant has exhibited injury on all sides, surround it with a barrier, but leave the top open to allow for some air and light penetration. If driving stakes into the ground and tying burlap to them is too much for you, there are also a variety of shrub jackets and covers that can be easily slipped over the plant.

 

Throughout winter the dry air is pulling moisture out of the plant via its foliage and stems. To ensure winter survival one should give the plant a good soaking around Thanksgiving and then spray with an anti-desiccant called Cloud Cover. Cloud Cover helps to seal in the moisture that is in the plant. A second application should be applied during that late January thaw.

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Mice, rabbits (rodents), and deer can all cause severe damage to plants in the winter. These animals feed on the tender twigs, bark, and foliage of landscape plants during the winter. They can girdle trees and shrubs and eat shrubs to the ground line. Trees can be protected from rodent damage by placing a cylinder of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth around the trunk. The cylinder should extend 2 to 3 inches below the ground line for mice and 18 to 24 inches above the anticipated snow line for rabbit protection.If you have many trees or shrubs to protect, using screens and wraps may be too expensive and time consuming. In such situations, repellents may be the best solution. Remember that a repellent is not a poison; it simply renders plants undesirable through taste or smell.

 

Although winter injury is a yearly concern when it comes to Michigan winters, appropriate plant selection and planting site, and preventive maintenance will significantly reduce or prevent severe injury or loss of landscape plant life. Plants, with our help, possess a remarkable ability to withstand extremely severe winter conditions. Michigan winters should not discourage planting of traditional or new plant species.

 

Add a touch of the formal to your landscape with this month's Garden Native, the Gnom Juniper (Juniperus communis 'Gnom'). If you think of the beautiful formal gardens you've seen, whether in person or in films or photographs, you'll likely notice the elegant verticals standing out in the various tableaus. You are able to add that element to your landscape whether it is small or extensive.

 

Gnom Juniper grows in a compact, dense vertical columnar orientation, with interesting grayish green foliage that is striped with silver. Create a striking scene by using only 1 plant or several, in a line as a hedge or in a group as a focal point among lower growing shrubs and perennials accented with colorful eye catching annuals.

 

This easy to grow, adaptable, drought tolerant plant should be grown in full sun. It is very durable in hot locations and tolerates poor soil and drought. It doesn't do well in standing water but thrives in moisture conserving settings. It provides year-round color and a bright touch in the winter landscape.

 

Did you know that you can have your blades sharpened at Wedels?!

Take a look at these prices! 

• Pruners - $5.00
• Loppers - $5.00
• Lawn mower blades - $6.00 (sorry, no reel mowers)
• Mulching mower blades - $6.00
• Hedge shears - $5.00  
• Electric and cordless hedge shears - $10.00
• Hoes, shovels and trowels - $3.00 
• Larger items - we will quote a price 

(We don't sharpen chain saw blades.)  

 

You still have time to stop by Wedel's for an excellent selection of spring flowering bulbs. There are at least 150 varieties of tulips, crocus, hyacinth and other spring flowering bulbs - the best you'll find in the area - just waiting to brighten someone's landscape this coming spring. It might as well be yours!

There has been a little snow already as well as some days most would call cold. That's a good sign there are many more to come. That doesn't mean it is too late to plant bulbs. If you can dig the soil, you can plant the bulbs (even if there's snow on the ground). If you need a little more encouragement how about this; the bulbs at Wedel's are 40% off while supplies last.

Come by soon. You'll be so glad you did once spring and your beautiful blooms appear!