Winter Damage Intervention
In the middle of January, most gardeners are not thinking too much about spring unless they get one of those wonderful "January thaws". Winter of 2005/2006 (as I write this) is an unusually warm winter, with no snow cover to speak of. So I'm not thinking about my garden, I'm worrying about it! So what to do for mid winter intervention if that insulating layer of snow you usually count on, is missing? Well, preparing for spring starts now. Here's a few tips:
Is your Christmas tree still hanging around somewhere out in your backyard? I'm talking about a real live fir/spruce/pine tree here, seeing as you probably wouldn't put your artificial tree out in the backyard! Well, if you have access to a fir tree that can be cut... cut the branches off and pile them on top of your flower beds. The few inches of mulch you may or may not have spread, won't be enough to prevent heaving during the freezing and thawing cycles that go on in a milder than normal winter. That extra layer of protection will give the crowns of peonies and other shallow perennials such as daisies, just a bit more
breathing space if you get freezing rain, ice or heavy wet snow. It will also greatly benefit your bulbs whose buds may be slightly above the soil from good fall growth. Did you Wrap the trunks of those young trees you planted? No? Well, no time like the present. The reason you should wrap those young trees, it's because of a condition called "Sunscald". Sunscald happens because of rapid temperature changes, such as we are experiencing this winter in Canada. On sunny days the temperature of the tree may rise significantly above the air temperature, especially on the south and west sides of the tree, but then when the sun sets and the temperature plummets, the tree, which has thawed out somewhat, will then quickly freeze. You can tell this is happening by having a good look at the bark which will have splitting,
tearing and ragged cracks. Not good for your tree at all because this will be a great way by which disease and pests can enter the trunk in the spring. So, my advice? Take one of those nice days and head to your nearest store that carries garden supplies and buy some waterproof tree wrap and get out and wrap those poor little things up! If you can't find anything locally then order your
Tree Guards
 here so no further damage is done to your young trees. Frost Heave. If you see signs of it in your flower beds then you can take a few steps to minimize any more damage from this point on. The freezing and thawing cycles are expanding and contracting your soil. What happens is that when the soil moves it is breaking the roots and popping some of your small plants and bulbs out of the ground. Shallow rooted plants will be the most susceptible to having this happen, but if you did not mulch your beds, it's more likely to happen as not. Again - MULCH, MULCH, MULCH... 4 to 6 inches deep is the recommended depth for adequate winter protection.
If you can find some mulch this time of year, then get it, by all means and spread it on. No mulch available... find some fir boughs and cover the beds. No fir boughs... Well how about sawdust from the nearest sawmill? Now this is where YOUR great ideas would come in handy. If you can think of any other great ideas for mid-winter mulching, by all means write me and I'll include the best ideas here! | 
