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Dealing with Drout
Preparing for Spring
Moles and Voles
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Preparing for Spring
 With the occasional unseasonably warm days we have been experiencing this winter, many of us have already begun thinking about spring. I KNOW - we will have winter to deal with for the next two months, however the first sights of robins looking for worms is just around the corner.
It is time for us to begin getting our gardens prepared for what may be the best of our four seasons. Over the next few weeks, we should be cutting back our ornamental grasses and Liriope, and begin cleaning out last season's perennial growth. Pruning plants like Hydrangeas and Butterfly bushes is an excellent way to promote new growth and help control their size.
We must not forget about one of most colorful trees, the Crape Myrtle. I am not encouraging or promoting the every popular WACK job commonly seen throughout our area. However, I do believe selective pruning and the removal of last season’s bloom pods is a must. Mildew is a threat to the health of Crape Myrtles and it’s typically caused by poor air circulation within the tree’s foliage. With proper pruning, we minimize the threat of mildew and diseases, plus we are promoting healthier growth.
This also a great time to prune any shrub or tree which is approaching or has passed the desired size for its location in the landscape. We all have a tendency to shape our shrubs, which over the years promotes all of the plants foliage to be on the tips of their branches. By selective pruning, we allow light and air to enter throughout the shrub which promotes a healthier plant.
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