Look closely at the detritus currently occupying your yard: tangled, brown, leggy. Left to their own devices, certain tenants of your garden believe they are popular enough to drag that look into summer. The audacity of nature. Besides, they’re wrong. They require a rigorous lesson in sophistication before springtime. Time to sharpen your pedagogical approach….
When January rolled around, I used to think gardening was completely on hold. Cold weather and frozen soil made it feel like there was nothing to do. That turned out to be far from true. After experimenting with indoor seed starting, and comparing notes with family and friends in different zones, it became clear that…
Ancient civilizations probably didn’t obsess over hosta crowns, and thankfully, we don’t have to either. What matters is knowing how winter conditions affect your plants and what simple February tasks help hostas emerge strong in spring. I’ve learned through years of growing hostas in cold, wet winters that a few simple February checks make the…
February knocks, you do not open the shed doors. Ignore the siren song of the garden tools. Drop the clippers, don the slippers! Although the stalks of your loving perennials may look tattered, crunchy brown layers blanket the roots and protect the next generation of blossoms. Relax, the garden’s fine. These are the plants I…
Winter in February feels like that one unwelcome guest who drinks all your expensive whiskey. You could sulk, or you could sow the seeds of rebellion. Certain plants ignore the frost with indifference that puts your shivering spine to shame. So give your flowerbed a head start. Victory belongs to the cold-blooded gardener. On second…
The weather is miserable, but you’re still determined to get the roses sorted. I also know you’d rather tackle a thorny bush than endure another minute of small talk. We can work with that. February gives you a tiny window to knock out these seven tasks. A double win where the roses get healthy, and…