Now's the Time to Water

Garden chores don’t stop just because it’s off-season. There’s still a list of things to do not the least of which includes watering your landscape periodically. This is especially true this year, following one of the driest Januarys in recent history. Even though deciduous trees appear to be dormant now, their root systems continue to grow and need moisture to survive. You may not see the damage right away, but trees that don’t receive supplemental watering during the winter may experience smaller leaf production, branch dieback and chlorosis through spring and summer. This is emphasized even more for trees planted this past season that haven’t had time to establish. While more mature trees have the advantage of a larger root system to draw moisture from, newly-planted trees need to be watered during the winter to prevent damage and die-back to fine roots. For winter watering to be effective, there are key factors you need to take into account, including temperature, time of day, and sprinkler type. First, pick a day when the ambient temperature is forty degrees or higher and there is no snow on the ground. Plan to water around mid-day, to allow time for the water to soak into the ground. Use a soft spray attachment such as an adjustable hand-held water nozzle, a simple stationary sprinkler or soil needle. Don’t turn your sprinkler system on. 

For deciduous trees, place the sprinkler halfway between the trunk and the dripline.  How long you run the sprinkler or hose attachment depends on the size of the tree trunk. A good general formula is about four to five minutes per inch of tree diameter, measured at knee height. For example, a tree with a three-inch trunk merits approximately twelve to fifteen minutes of watering, moving the sprinkler three times or until you’ve covered the entire area under the tree canopy. For conifers, follow the same time guidelines but place the sprinkler at or just beyond the drip line. While you’re at, water the lawn.  Turf grass that is well-hydrated through the winter months will start to green up earlier in the spring and typically experiences less die-back through summer’s heat.

 Keep an eye on your sprinkler. Soil quality and structure will affect the absorption rate so if the water starts to puddle, shut off the sprinkler and let the water soak in before turning it on again. This will prevent wasting water due to runoff.   Once you’re done watering, be sure to disconnect the hose from the outside faucet.   

Clean the air with these houseplants

We've always known houseplants are good for us. They add beauty to our homes and offices, they have a calming effect on us and they give us a sense of well-being. We show how much we care about others in our lives when we give houseplants for birthdays, special occasions and as get-well gifts. In addition to beautifying a room, houseplants work hard to make us healthier, by removing pollutants from the air and adding oxygen back into the room. All houseplants do this to a certain extent and some are really good at purifying our indoor air. 

One outstanding air-purifying plant is the Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum. Peace Lilys are very easy to grow. Place them in a spot where they will receive bright, indirect light, keep the soil moist and feed them every three or four weeks and they will reward you with beautiful white flowers and cleaner air for many years. 

Pothos are a great houseplant choice to help clean the air. They're easy to care for and they'll do well in areas where you don't have a lot of light. 

Sanseveria or Snake Plant is another air purifying plant for your home or office. Snake plants do best in bright light. You can keep them in a place with low light. They just won't grow as fast. They also like their soil on the dryer side. 

Dracaena plants are slow growing, can take low to medium light and they also like their soil on the dry side, so avoid overwatering them. They'll do a great job keeping the air clean. 

A houseplant that helps clean the air and blooms throughout the year is the Anthurium. Anthurium do best in bright light and moist soils. 

Looking for a houseplant that likes low light and helps clean the air, get a Chinese Evergreen plant. Known for its unique foliage, the Chinese Evergreen likes moist but not soggy soil. Let the top inch or two of soil dry out before you water this plant. 

Another interesting foliage houseplant that will aid in cleaner air is the Dieffenbachia. This houseplant prefers bright light but will do okay in low light situations, so it's a great choice for many offices. 

Ferns are also good choices to help improve the air in your home or workplace. Not sure which houseplant is right for you? Stop in and we'll help you pick out the best plants for your home and office. You'll feel better surrounded by houseplants and you'll breathe better too! 

Winter houseplant care

 Keeping your houseplants healthy and thriving during the winter months requires a few adjustments to your regular watering and fertilizing schedule. This time of year, houseplants aren’t growing as vigorously as they do in the spring and summer, which means they don’t need to be fed as often and their water needs are different. Houseplants will do best in the winter if you water them when they need it, rather than on a fixed schedule. A simple way to tell if your houseplants need water is to stick your finger into the soil. If it feels dry about two inches down, it’s time to water. Water your plants with room temperature water. Plan ahead by filling your watering can twenty-fours in advance. This will bring the water to room temperature, which makes it easier for your houseplant to absorb. It’s important to make sure your houseplants have enough light. You may have to move your plants around the house during the winter in order to provide the best light situation or you can add supplemental grow lights. 

Feed your plants every two weeks with a houseplant fertilizer such Schultz Plant Food or ferti-lome 20-20-20. Supplement your regular fertilizer with kelp-based Superthrive. Superthrive's kelp and vitamin formula strengthens roots and improves leaf growth. Find a way to raise the humidity.  Houses are dry during the winter, which doesn't help your houseplants. One way to increase humidity is to group your houseplants together. This will help raise the humidity and make maintenance easier.  

Another simple way to increase humidity is to place your plants on a pebble tray. Make a pebble tray by spreading an even layer of small pebbles in a saucer or shallow pan and then add water. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around your plants. Be sure that the bottom of the pot doesn't sit in the water. Spraying the leaves of your plants with Leaf Shine will help deter insects and keep your plants cleaner. Doing these things will help your houseplants stay healthier and happier through the winter months.  

3 Steps to becoming a better gardener

With the New Year fresh upon us, now’s the time to set some goals for improving our gardening experience in 2020. Building your garden skills and knowledge is a life-long process. Regardless of your age or gardening experience, it’s important to keep learning. Three ways to accomplish is by taking gardening classes, joining a local garden club and finding someone to mentor you along your gardening journey.  

Consider joining Hoe and Hope Garden Club, a well-established local organization whose membership includes all levels of gardening experience. Attending Hoe and Hope meetings affords you the opportunity to learn from individual members and participate in community projects throughout the year. You can learn more about Hoe and Hope by following this link: http://hoeandhopegardenclub.com/.  

Plan to take some gardening classes. At The Flower Bin, we offer classes in the spring and fall. As a matter of fact, our first class for 2020 is on Saturday, January 18. There’s no charge for our class, but we do ask you to register for each one. You can find more about this class and others by stopping in the store or visiting our website at https://www.theflowerbin.net/home-decor.  

Find a garden mentor. A garden mentor is someone with the training, knowledge and experience to help you make good decisions when it comes to planting, growing and harvesting your crops. This could be a neighbor, a friend or relative that you can bounce garden questions and ideas off of. Avail yourself of all the resident knowledge at The Flower Bin. Internet research is just a click away, but it’s important to realize that all the information on the web may not be applicable here. Sign up for our e-mail, follow our blog, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bring your specific plant and garden questions to Diagnostic Desk. You can be confident the advice and information you receive will work in your garden.