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GET A JUMP ON SPRING
Katye Elsea
It's possible for us to get a jump on
spring work this time of year.
Winter is a very good time to prune
your trees and shrubs because when they are leafless, you can see their
outline better. If you see any weak crotches, branches rubbing each other,
or dead wood, these are the things to correct first. There are a few trees
that have a pruning time preference and spring blooming shrubs should be
pruned after bloom time is over.
You can buy a pretty good book on
pruning at Lowes for about $10 and it is a good idea to have one to refer to
if you have any shrubs or trees to care for.
Of course, if you are so inclined, now
is the time to start some seeds indoors. If you have a good shop light with
one warm and one cool bulb, you can easily start a flat of plants. Cuttings
can also be taken, rooted and potted up soon, too.
There are several weeds that grow very
well over the winter, like henbit, chickweed and corydalis. We
usually have a few mild days in
February or March, and these days can not only help to relieve your cabin
fever, but give you a chance to get some of those weeds out.
Chances are that the ground will be
pretty damp. In order to avoid compacting the soil when stepping through
the garden, it is best to put down a board to step on as this distributes
the weight more evenly.
Late winter is the time to start
cleaning up the garden if you didn't do it in the fall. Don't remove the
mulch yet as we often have a late freeze.
You may be surprised at what you will
see by way of early growth in what appears to be a bare garden when you get
out and look closely while trying to get a jump on Spring.
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