Page 54 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-2019

Rain. Water is the lifeblood of our gardens, and rain provides it for free. While the dry season has lingered longer than most of us would like, eventually rain arrives. As mentioned last month, getting more of it into the ground and to our plants, and less into gutters and storm drains, is something we can all improve on. Do you know where your water goes? How much that falls on your property stays there, or sinks into the ground?
End of year. For many the end of the calendar year is such a rush of parties, dinners, shopping and events that gardening is likely to be far down on your list of things to do. The days are so short, that except on days one doesn’t work, it’s dark in the morning and dark when you get home. It is also the time of year your landscape is moving at its slowest
pace, even though it is simultaneously waking up for next year, the
changes are subtle. Every month is another chance to re-evaluate
you garden or landscape. The leaves have fallen, and your space is at
its most naked; it’s a good chance to evaluate what failed or bothers
you, and what you want your garden to become.
Structure in garden. Since it is a bare season in the garden, use restraint in cutting back everything, as clumps of dried grasses, certain perennials with seed
heads, and such. These plants not
only can serve as food sources for
wildlife, they can catch the low light
elegantly, or show off dew, raindrops
or frost, and simply add a moment of
beauty in your life. On a bigger scale,
look at your large shrubs or trees –
how are they structurally? Do certain
limbs or branches look awkward
or wrong, or the whole plant tilted
and falling over? You don’t have to
deal with these immediately, but
correcting some of these aesthetic
and structural defects over time will make your landscape more relaxed to your eyes.
– screening, flowering or food producing? There are actually
some plants that reach their showiest in the middle of winter
such as Sasanqua camellias, our native chaparral currants, early manzanitas, winter hellebores, and some narcissus. Timing varies considerably due to watering, when the rains come and temperatures, but they all are great seasonal accents.
The easiest way to get water to percolate into the ground is to have soft ground with spaces between the particles and this is most easily produced by keeping the soil mulched with organic material. Bare, open soils get crusty and repel water penetration, much like pavement.
Other possibilities of catching and storing water such as tanks or cisterns – above or below the soil, and seasonal ponds have merit, but can be very expensive and of limited utility where they are not replenished due to our long dry season. But in some situations, it may make sense
Top: Native chaparral currants Left: Early manzanitas Bottom: inter hellebores
in the long picture, as we’d be using water that fell where we are, not importing it from somewhere else. In general, much of California suffers from shrinking underground water tables, we pull up more than gets replenished. Just because we see water in the Russian River, the primary watershed of the County, does not mean the water table is replenished. And in fact, much of that visible water
Gaps. What about gaps you perceive in your landscapes
Looking forward to a grand gardening season ahead, happy holidays from Planet Horticulture.
Decide now, plant later. Bare root season for many plants is almost here, so decide what you want now. Maybe mention certain plants you want as potential “gifts” to your family and friends, and almost any nursery will provide gift certificates for later. Sonoma Co. nurseries carry almost any plant you can imagine, so buy locally.
“Do you know where your water goes? How much that falls on your property stays
there...or sinks into the ground?”
comes from the Eel River drainage in Mendocino Co. via pipes and pumps. So, it is good to reflect on where our water comes from, and how to keep it here.
California Newt in Oak Leaves
Critters ranging from newts and salamanders (who LOVE leaf mulch) to moths, butterflies, worms and birds, love what leaf mulch provides for them. In winter they rely on leaves for both food and shelter. Moths and butterfly caterpillars overwinter in fallen leaves so think about the flutter of colored wings in spring before you remove those last leaves. And think of all the time you’ll save so you can take a walk to enjoy the gold rays of sun before rain clouds block the sun’s warmth.
It’s time to LEAVE the Leaves
With fire season in high gear we have been removing every dry leaf and twig to prevent flying embers from catching our yards on fire and taking out homes with the flames. But with rain on the way, we can think about the benefits of leaves on the ground instead of the dangers.
The National Wildlife Federation wants you to put your rake away for the rest of fall. Yes, you have to keep paths clean, and that 5-foot safety barrier around your structures, but the rest of the yard is ready to go natural.
Leaves are precious resources for nutrients as well as home for beneficial insects and critters. If you have been removing leaves from under vulnerable plants, now is the perfect time to give them a blanket of composted mulch then let leaves fall on top of the mulch to create a cushion for rain drops falling from the sky.
54 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/19