Hello everyone and seasons greetings. Don’t fret about your piles of leaves too much. Let’s get a head start and make our own compost! Even if you’ve never done it before, get some compost starter and mix it up and throw it in a bin. A bin can be easily made out of some 2 x 4 plywood or, for a smaller garden, a large Rubbermaid type trash can with lid. Cut a shoebox size hole in the side at the bottom so you can get a shovel in there, and turn the compost - leaves left over, winter food scraps like potato and carrot peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and turnip peels, etc.
Our bare root roses have arrived and soon our fruit and nut trees will be here. Remember Kellogg Gro-Mulch is ideal for bare root stalks. A good idea for what to do with your Christmas trees is to sink them in a pond or find out which dumpsters are collecting for the leaves, etc. They sink them along the levees, lakes, ponds, etc. to provide fish habitat and it also helps to keep the water from splashing up and eroding some banks. Don’t forget to have frost protection on hand for your tender plants, trees and succulents.
I want to give a special thank you to all you readers who have taken the time to come see me at Home Depot and given me the privilege of helping you in person. That is what I’m here for and it’s been a lot of fun. Remember to save your receipts and if we do in fact end up having fatalities from the winter frost, I can replace or refund for up to one year with the receipt.
For those of us with lilies or similar bulbs who have already cut them back you can also pile your leaves on top of them for insulation or you can start spreading leaves on top of your vegetable garden with a pre-emergent herbicide (aka week killer) mixed in and plow them under for the spring. You can do this as well with lawn clippings for future garden fertilizer.
Late January is the time for Crocus and other Feb/ Mar blooming bulb planting. Make sure that when you trim your roses you use anvil pruners and prune them ‘til it looks like you have ruined them. The more you prune the more abundant and larger your roses will be. Have you ever seen what a fruitless Mulberry looks like after they have whacked it back to its nubs? It does look funny; however, it all goes to promote new growth. Well guys, it’s getting cold so I’d better go.
Until Next Month,
"Your" Plant Lady
Remember: questions and wonders are welcome. Just email or contact the North Highlands News and I’ll be happy to help.
Email: submit@thenhnews.com
Tel: (916) 334-6700
P.O. Box 904
North Highlands, CA 95660