Page 40 - AreaNewsletters "Dec 2021" issue

Protecting Your Garden
in Winter
Pruning this dogwood in early winter resulted in die-back along many of the stems.
damaged foliage in your garden should get a cleaning “haircut”: dispose of trimmings in the trash if diseased or pest-infested. Dead organic matter from healthy plants can be composted. It may be tempting to look at the bare stems, twigs, and dried up leaves on the limbs of plants and want to prune them. Do not. Pruning cuts made during this time will likely be sites of additional injury thanks to variable temperatures. Wait until the more consistently cold temperatures of late winter to prune most shrubs and tender trees.
While you’re cleaning up, be sure to check the soil moisture. From mid-Autumn through early Spring, this area of Colorado may not receive enough rain or snow to keep our soil from drying out. Soil moisture is key in the health of a plant and proper moisture during drier seasons is essential to its survival. Many plants, especially trees and shrubs with Southern or Southwestern exposure will need supplemental watering during the dry periods. Trees, shrubs, perennials, and other plant roots will bene t from the moisture by better tolerating uctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather. If your garden needs watering (if the top few inches of soil are dry—water!), be sure to choose a day when the temperature will be above 40 degrees and the soil is not snow covered or frozen. Water by hand during
Late Fall is a suitable time to get in the garden and do a little winter protection before consistently cold and snowy weather (hopefully!) settles in for a few months. With as warm as it’s been recently, you still have time even now to complete some fall gardening tasks! November temperatures are unpredictable in this area but there are many opportunities left to get these chores accomplished. Pick a crisp, Autumn beautiful Colorado blue sky, day then grab your gloves, hose, soil thermometer, mulch and tree wrap and let’s get started! If early or mid- season Fall yard clean-up did not happen, it’s not too late to get it done now. Shrubs, perennials, and other plants with dead or December 2021 • Castle Rock “AreaNewsletters” 40
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