Timing is of the essence
Gardening expert, Brenda Ruzycki, answers your gardening queries By BRENDA RUZYCKI, Special to The Edmonton Sun
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QUESTION: Is it too late to plant trees, shrubs and perennials?
- B.J.
ANSWER: If the ground is not frozen, which it is not, then you can still dig a hole and plant your favourite tree, shrub or perennial.
Once the ground becomes frozen then you've missed the boat. Just to clarify the difference between planting and transplanting: to plant means to take a potted or container-grown tree, shrub or perennial and plant it in the ground. Transplanting means you are digging up a tree, shrub or perennial that has rooted and has been growing in the ground for at least a season or two.
Basically if I want to move my lilac shrub from one location to another, that is transplanting. Here again it is not too late to transplant as long as the ground is not frozen. If the ground is even slightly frozen, don't even think about it.
The key thing to transplanting is that it has to be done while the plant is dormant. Either in late fall or early spring prior to it leafing out is the ideal time. Many people have been asking me how to keep container-grown plants over the winter.
The best way is to remove the pot and plant them. If you are in a situation where you want to take advantage of those late fall sales, and don't have a plan as to where things are to go yet, then heal them into the ground for the winter. This means digging a hole and burying the plant with the pot and all.
Another alternative is to group the plants all together, place them in a sheltered location and then cover the pots with peat moss, wood chips or sawdust. In any case, all of the plants in the above scenarios have to be well-watered in before freeze-up.
Too late to winterize?
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QUESTION: Is it too late to winterize my trees and shrubs?
- Elma
ANSWER: As long as the ground is not frozen, it is not too late to give your trees, shrubs and perennials a deep root watering.
If the temperatures are above zero, it is not too late to spray an anti-transpirant (like Wilt Prouf) to protect your cedars and junipers.
If the temperatures are below zero, it's too late.
It is not too late to cover your cedars with burlap. Loosely surround your cedars with the burlap leaving an opening at the top for air circulation. All the burlap is doing is shielding your plant from sunburn.
Wrapping it too tight only creates poor air circulation, which results in other problems.
No, it's not too late to put mulch such as leaves, straw, peat moss or bark chips over your perennials and tender tea roses. Even if there is a bit of snow on the ground go ahead and put that extra layer of insulation over your plants.
Timing can be of the essence. Once the ground is frozen and the snow cover is there to stay, you can officially hang up your gardening garb for the season.