It's time to winterize your garden.
Several procedures can help plants, shrubs and trees survive the winter and provide fantastic color and growth in the spring garden.
If you have not taken cuttings of annuals or tender perennials, there is still time to root cuttings for spring planting. Select five-six inch tip cuttings of plants such as Coleus, Scented Geraniums or African Blue Basil. Strip the lower leaves from the cuttings and set them aside. Add potting soil (two-three inches) to a hanging basket. Place a small clay pot with no drain hole in the center of the soil. Place the cuttings in the soil around the clay pot and firm the soil lightly around the cuttings. Label the cuttings and water the soil sparingly. Fill the clay pot with water and keep it filled with water until roots form on the cuttings.
To determine if roots have formed, tug gently on the cutting. Pot any rooted cuttings and set in a sunny, warm area until spring.
Pull or remove any annuals, grass or weeds from flower beds. Remove any vegetable plants no longer producing food. Compost pulled plants, but discard any diseased plants in the trash.
When the soil cools down, cover any bare soil around plants with compost or mulch. Place 2-4 inches of mulch around a plant, but not on the base of the stem or trunk. You may use dried shredded grass clippings, pine bark chips, or tree trimmings with leaves included in the mulch. Mulch will warm the soil, conserve moisture, prevent water run-off and erosion of soil. Mulch will prevent soil splashing on lower leaves and thus may prevent some diseases. Mulch will decompose and supply slow release fertilizer to plants.
If you have plants growing in pots, they will need to be placed in a cold frame, garage or covered with row cover. Plants can survive lower temperature in the ground than they can in pots.
Usually there is a ten degree difference in temperatures at which plants are killed in pots.
Water is necessary not only in summer but during winter months for plants to survive. Experienced gardeners advise gardeners to water deeply after leaves drop from deciduous trees and shrubs.
During no rain periods supply one-half inch of water every two-three weeks.
If the garden looks drab after all you have done, consider some additions to an area you see from inside the house. Choose evergreen shrubs with green or variegated color. You can trim shrubs to a conical or pyramidal shape. If you are extremely patient you can clip evergreen shrubs to a bird or an animal shape. Topiaries must be clipped frequently with heavy scissors rather than hedge trimmers.
Patience will create some interesting artwork. Boxwood, Holly or variegated Eunomyous can be used.
Plant a tree with interesting bark or limb structure. Birch, Lace Bark Elm or Maple are examples, but may think of others to plant.
Create additional focal points by painting a bench or chair your favorite color to emphasize or contrast colors in your garden. The addition of weatherproof statues, bird baths, or unusual containers, add elements of surprise. Find a place for a mirror which adds depth, sparkle, whimsy and can expand the area you view from the house. Use your imagination to create a site you will enjoy all winter.
Now you are ready to sit down with a hot drink and the seed catalogs you have collected and plan any changes for Spring and Summer 2009.
Call Texas AgriLife Extension office, 903-583-7543, if you need additional information on plant propagation, composting, or rain water harvesting.