Winter losses and spring disappointments
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
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My winter loss head count
Comments (1)Good luck, Jenny. I look out side and see the pond ice free and all the spring flowers coming up and I start getting worried. The messages from Mother Nature just don't jibe with Father Time's schedule. It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I seem to see all of my fishies. It's hard to tell the comets from one another and the water is too dark from tannins to see the bottom at the moment. I do see all of the Koi. They started to come to the surface last week when temperatures were in the sixties during the day. The crocus in the front yard are in bloom already and the snow drops are lovely. Zone 5 is as confusing as ever. I do have plans for the pond this summer but like everyone else, I'll have to see where the economy is headed first. If there is one thing I have learned when it comes to taking care of the yard, nothing ever is the way you expected, the raccoons are always going to scatter the plastic pots and DH always comes up with surprises....See MoreWinter's losses
Comments (13)Brandy, you have had substantial losses it's true. I've only lost a few out of about 100 so I shouldn't be crying in my milk! Babka, Your hypothesis resonates ... I won't make the same mistake again and PUKE! says it all! Lol. I do appreciate the sympathy and the cheer at the same time. Santa and Bkay - yes, and yes - newly potted, probably too much media which was soaked, and as Bkay's, some of the losses had moisture retentive media which exacerbated the problem ::(. Bkay, it actually makes sense to me because everything seemed to be fine until the total melt down, then I couldn't work fast enough to get at the ones that needed to be repotted. The rot set in quickly as days warmed up. It's difficult to work with roots that are breaking off because they are soil and water logged! Mocc, I hear you girl! a lesson well learned will linger while the losses can be pushed out of my mind..onwards! Live, learn, do differently in the future! Aye! I am sorry however that you lost your Aphrodite. She is still rolling around in my mind. Gesila, two of the losses were under the deck here too but without adequate snow cover! They froze while very wet - goners! Leafwatcher - there is no rhyme or reason is there that little seedlings make it, and mature 3-yr. stock doesn't make it. Just a tough year overall. LuckyKat, I hate losing to voles - two years ago they feasted all winter in my front garden. I could see outside the living room window..this little vole running from next door to my bed, back and forth...did he dine at my place, and bed down next door? Lol Ravens, my Spilt Milk was new too...still in original pot. It was big too..I'm sad about that one so I will replace it. I still have it in the pot..reminding me. Maybe just a weak one? Good luck with your OM! If it likes it in new area, super! If not, try more sun exposure - may not be as pretty but it will gain vigour, if only for one growing season, then you can claw back some of the sun exposure......just an idea that works here :-) Ken, your losses hit home! I have to admit that if I lost my LSMASTER I would probably blubber! I bought about 40 new hostas last year, a few were fragrants. LSM was by far my most favourite for its colour and shape and it's fall colour and leaf integrity was superb! I am sorry you lost it. OBL was a Mother's Day or birthday gift, can't recall as was in same month but it was beautiful. I have to replace it, just because. Lovely, lovely hosta. I planted LSM back into the ground today. :-) glad to hear you will replace both! Thank you all - it is so nice to hear from you and by sharing your losses you've made me feel a bit better about mine. I sincerely appreciate the support. It is so encouraging. BTW Brandy, you are not allowed to EVER throw in the hosta towel! Lol Your hosta would never forgive you! Jo...See MoreAdd up the losses of spring....
Comments (29)My Korean maple is pretty vigorous. I planted it on the north side of the house where it's shaded during the hottest part of the day. This means the soil is cool. I never water mine. I did amend the soil with quite a bit of compost when I planted in five (?) years ago. The soil here is nothing special -- mostly clay. I cut it back two years ago but that just encouraged it to throw four foot vertical branches. My research tells me the plant will attain the tiered, horizontal look on its own. I'm just going to stand back and let it grow, though I will limb it up a bit. Here's a close-up of the flowers: The leaves' color each fall is a parrot's pastiche of oranges, splashy reds and yellows, all parti-colored on each leaf. Since the plants we purchased from Green Value were not labeled cultivars, it may be that these are grown from seed. If this is true, they may be a varied lot: a litter of mixed hardiness, habit and sensitivity. I am now seeing KM in nurseries everywhere. I understand the U of M is using KM to lend hardiness to its Japanese maple program. Who knows? Maybe in a few years there may be a JM for zone 4. I have a friend who grows his KM in zone 3 North Dakota with little problem. Don't give up. A bit early to show my bald cypress, but here's a picture I took an hour ago. It is just now beginning to bud out....See MoreWinter Losses
Comments (29)Well I can empathize with everyone's losses. This was one of the harshest winters here even though we had good snow cover most of the time . I can't really figure out what did it but I am guessing it was more related to spring weather than the winter weather . Too many rounds of freeze /thaw and rain forming puddles on top of the ground which would then freeze the leaves that had started to grow.. Most of what I lost were only planted last season and many were southern plants. I have had to dig up and treat at least 9 cultivars so far with peroxide for crown rot . So far I have been able to rescue 4 of the nine with number 5 beginning to show signs of life. I lost Bullfrogs and Butterflies , for certain but was able to rescue Xylophone Jazz. So disappointing as I am sure I wont see bloom this season and who knows if it will survive another winter here....See MoreRelated Professionals
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