Echinacea- cut back in fall or leave till spring?
kentstar
14 years ago
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tammyinwv
14 years agotiffy_z5_6_can
14 years agoRelated Discussions
how to store shredded leaves till spring?
Comments (8)The best place to "store" this mulch this winter is on your garden as the mulch you plant to put down next spring. There is no good reason to wait until spring to mulch and there is no good reason to remove that mulch next spring. Some people will tell you that you should not put mulches on your garden in the fall since that may give insect pests someplace to hide and over winter, but that also gives beneficial insects the same chance so those beneficial insects are there in the spring ready to find the pests. In addition that mulch may help keep your soil warmer longer so the soil bacteria will start to digest that mulch material and work it into your soil....See MoreCutting back in the fall
Comments (7)Like Derek said snow won't bother the grass at all. I have several very innteresting pictures taken of snow covered grasses and the winter scene is totally awesome. Many people don't like the untidy mess that dormant or dead grass fronds cause around the yard or in the garden beds but HEY ! that's what nature does. maybe in the warmer climates w/o snow I might want a cleaner or neater appearance but in the area I live the snow is really a sight changing adventure. Can't wait for the snow to start falling, if seems we get less every year butr even a little is still worth the method of cutting grasses back in the spring. Jake...See MoreCutting Back Perennials- Do It In the Spring
Comments (15)Mindy definitely an interesting point of view expressed in the article. Like George, I hate to see the disorder out in the garden and plus in spring my gardens are very muddy and take a long time to dry out enough. I am afraid I wouldn't have the time to do everything in the spring also. But one season when illness prevent me from doing the clearing in fall fully I can tell you that the plants overwintered better with the protection of the leaves and the foliage was as you stated dramatically reduced. I can see for your garden and lot having visited it that it would be difficult for you to find a composting spot as your gardens are so lushly planted. Thanks for posting --interesting to debate the merits of each method. Sue...See Morecutting leaves off in fall
Comments (9)Hello Brett, I Do have to cut leaves to prepare my trees for dormancy. Do I really want to do this? Of course not...If I could be in a warmer climate then they would all keep their leaves and then they would naturally go into their dormancy phase. But since the cold air could damage my trees, I have to be ready to put my trees inside. My potted trees (28) have to be brought inside and then placed in one of my back rooms. I would rather put them in a green house, but I don't have that "wish list item" yet!!! LOL... Most of us that push the limits in growing Plumerias, Palms and other tropicals have to sometimes play "Mother Nature"... I have taken this picture for you to see my 25 potted trees that have just been placed in my livingroom soon to be transfered to the back room. If the leaves were still on, I could never have had the space for these guys!! I do this for the convience of space, as well as from keeping the pest down to the mininum. It also keeps me from constantly picking up the fallen leaves. You raise an interesting point about the nutrients being lost...I am sure they are at a disadvantage when they get their haircut, but my trees have never had any problem coming out of dormancy. They are all given ES to wake them up followed by seaweed extract and then the normal fertilizers. I did keep three of my potted trees growing since they have large inflos emerging. So, I will keep everyone informed with their progress. It would be a great experiment to see if they do have any adverse reactions to growth etc... Pictures are my trees in the spring, summer and then trimmed for the winter. Remember that they were cut the same way last year when they were placed inside for the winter... I find this very interesting on how we all prepare our trees for the winter. Especially those of us that grow these trees in colder climates!!!! Take care everyone!! Laura in VB Spring 2010 new cutttings spring/summer 2010 May summer 2010 Summer 2010 Fall trimming 2010 Back in the house fall 2010 This is what I really like to think of during the winter!!! Thanks for looking!!! Think Spring!!!...See Morelaceyvail 6A, WV
14 years agokentstar
14 years agogringo
14 years agokentstar
14 years ago
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