As we approach winter, many parts of the Southeast are still under moderate to severe drought conditions, while others have had an abundance of hurricane-related late-season rainfall. If your area stays dry, be sure to continue watering into the winter months.
The more you learn about gardening and landscaping, the faster you realize that the condition of your soil is the key to success. A soil test is the best way to ensure that your plants have what they need to thrive and be productive. Contact your local county extension agent to find out how to take a soil sample for testing and where to send it. The report returned will detail which nutrients need to be added to the soil prior to planting, and will indicate whether the soil is too acid or alkaline for plants to thrive.
Winter is an excellent time to prune trees and shrubs. Many plants have lost their leaves, making it easier to see the framework of the plants and decide which branches to shorten or remove toward improving the overall structure and appearance of the plant. It also injures the plants less to prune them when they are dormant.
Proper pruning can significantly improve the appearance and strength of trees and shrubs in your landscape. However, do not prune spring-blooming plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia and crabapples, or you will cut all of the flowers for this spring's show. Prune these plants after the blooms fall off in the spring.
Fall and early winter have been unusually dry for many areas of the Southeast. Many areas still have not received adequate rainfall. Just because plants are inactive does not mean they do not need water. The roots of plants remain quite active. Do not allow your warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, centipede and zoysia, to go into winter dormancy in a drought-stressed state. They could die from winter cold.
If winter rains are few and far between, supplement the water going to newly planted trees and shrubs. Even though the parts of plants above ground are dormant, the roots continue to grow if adequate moisture is available. Broadleaf evergreens such as rhododendrons, azaleas and hollies will suffer the most in a dry winter if they do not receive enough water.
If you haven't already, winter is a good time to place mulch around your landscape plants. But here's a trick: wait until all the leaves from surrounding trees and shrubs have fallen before you spread your mulch. If the leaves are not too thick, bury the leaves beneath the mulch instead of removing them. The mulched area will look better longer because the mulch is leaf-free.
Plants grow very little in southeast landscapes during the winter, but there are still several things to watch out for this time of the year. Colorful flowering annuals such as pansies and snapdragons can get insect pests. Keep an eye out for aphids on these plants. Also watch for spider mites on holly trees. Allowed to go unchecked, spider mites can cause a stippled yellowing of the leaves.
You may notice yellowing in your tall fescue lawn as winter drags on. In most cases, it only indicates that the roots are too cold to take in nutrients from the soil. Once the soil warms up again in the spring, green color will return to your tall fescue lawn.
Since there are no more leaves to remove, take the time to winterize your leaf blower. The best approach is to drain the remaining fuel from the blower's tank, then start the unit to run the fuel line completely out of gas. This will prevent harmful deposits from contaminating the fuel lines.
Also, place fuel stabilizer in any leftover fuel so that it can be used at a later date. Fuel stabilizer can be purchased at any hardware store. Winterize all your gasoline-powered equipment in this manner.
When it's cold or rainy outside, stay in and search out reference materials. There are hundreds of books, videos and websites that will show you how to design and install lawns, landscapes and gardens. A planned landscape is far more appealing than one haphazardly thrown together. Plan now so you're ready for spring. Once you decide on the plants you’ll use, identify those you can start indoors yourself in the warmth of your home. February and early March are excellent times to start annuals and perennials.