be left alone once they are planted, so be careful where you decide to put them.
Lenten roses can be planted during the winter months and still thrive in your garden!
CAMELLIA
Camellias are gorgeous, versatile shrubs with pretty, long-blooming flowers and shiny green leaves. They can grow up to ten feet or be trimmed back to grow in a pot. They grow outside from Long Island, down the Atlantic coast and back up the Pacific coast to Washington. They can survive temperatures as low as 0-10 degrees. They grow best in partial shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. They prefer to be wet but not soggy.
Camellias can be planted late fall through the early spring. Allow at least five feet between plants. Dig a hole at least two feet wider than the root ball. Fill the hole around the roots with a mixture of good soil and organic matter. Mulch with straw after planting. Water well and soak once a week during dry weather. Flowers will bloom in late fall to early winter.
The American Camellia Society has a wealth of information for camellia lovers. Check them out here: http://www.camellias-acs.com/
GROW RADISHES!
In warmer areas, sow radish seeds in winter for an early spring harvest. Sprinkle seeds and cover them with ? inch of potting soil. Keep the bed moist and thin seedlings to 3 inches apart. Harvest in six weeks.
COMPOSTING
Keeping your soil healthy should be every gardener’s concern. Poor, tired soil will give rise to tired plants. Consider composting as a good way to refresh and revive your soil. Compost improves soil texture, helps provide drainage, and supplements nutrients by encouraging earthworms and microorganisms. This should be done throughout the growing season, but a good time to start your compost pile is in the winter as you’re waiting for the warmer months.
What goes into a compost pile? Chopped-up leaves, dry grass, dead plants, weeds without seeds, and old potting soil. You can provide fruit scraps, vegetable cuttings, tea bags, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, and shredded paper from inside your house. Don’t use meat, fish, bones, plastic, metal, fats and oils, dairy products, or pet waste.
To store your compost, you can build a pile on the ground if you have room, or you can use a composting bin that will cleverly create compost on your deck or porch without anyone knowing what’s inside. Compost should be damp but not wet.
How will you know if your compost is finished? It will have a dark, earthy smell, and the ingredients will be unrecognizable. In warmer weather, this happens faster, but your compost will break down in cold weather, too. There is no exact time frame. Just be patient.
What should you do with your compost when it’s finished? Use it as mulch in and around your plants. It will fertilize and protect your soil. Be sure to start filling up your compost pile or bin as soon as you empty the old one.
For more info on composting: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/
CONTROL WINTER PESTS
Warm, dry indoor air can lead to problems with spider mites on houseplants. The mites are barely visible to the eye. You’ll have to look for the problems they cause: stippling on leaves and fine webbing on new growth. They attack almost any houseplant. To control them, spray the plants with insecticidal soap two to three times a week. Be sure to spray the undersides of the leaves as well as the tops.
ADD EXTRA LIGHT
Grow lights or high-intensity discharge lamps can be a very good way to give your plants enough sunlight to thrive over the winter months. Sometimes, even a window setting might not provide enough light for your plants. Consider setting up a grow light to add to the natural lighting.
This can also help when you don’t have enough windows for all of your wintering plants. Grow lights can make any shelf or other space a plant-friendly area. A good way to know how much light your plants are getting is to put your light on a timer to simulate the natural hours of sunlight.
FROST HEAVED PLANTS AND BULBS
Alternating freeze/thaw cycles can “heave” perennials and bulbs out of the ground. Wind and extreme temperatures can damage exposed roots. Watch for frost heaved plants and bulbs. Replant them or push soil around exposed roots. To minimize damage, cover beds with lightweight mulch or evergreen boughs after the ground has frozen.
Botanical Gardens at Asheville Asheville, North Carolina
“Dedicated to preserving and promoting our Native Plants. We are an independent non-profit organization housing a collection of plants native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Our admission is free, but donations are appreciated and memberships are encouraged. We are located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, one of the most diverse temperate ecosystems in the world. Our mission is the preservation and promotion of the native plant species and habitats of these mountains. We hope to increase public awareness of this region’s unique botanical diversity by maintaining gardens for the enjoyment of the public and by providing educational programs and research resources for the community. The BGA is open year round from sunrise to sunset for the enjoyment of the community, and no admission is charged for entrance.”
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W.T. Weaver Boulevard
Asheville, NC 28804-3414
Phone: 828-252-5190
http://www.ashevillebotanicalgardens.org
Tree and Shrub Catalogs
Wayside Gardens: http://www.waysidegardens.com
Reeseville Ridge Nursery: http://www.wegrowit.com
Meadow Lake Nursery: http://www.meadow-lake.com
Seeds for unusual trees and shrubs: http://www.raingardens.com
River Rock Nursery: http://www.rdrop.com/users/green/plantit/index.htm
Outdoor Accessories
Patio and outdoor accessories: http://www.kitchensource.com/pau
Yard and garden accents: http://www.plowandhearth.com
Outdoor living solutions: http://www.brookstone.com
Cedar furniture: http://www.cedarstore.com
Home of the outdoor armoire: http://www.krupps.com
