By Mike Isbell
University of Georgia
Here’s a collection of winter landscape facts. I think I’ll title
it “Things you may not know, but it might be good if you did.”
One bale of pine straw will cover about 50 square feet of
planting bed if you spread it 3 inches thick or about 150 square
feet if you apply it to a 1 inch deep.
Roots grow throughout the winter in our warm Southern soils. Fall
and winter planting is best.
Do major pruning on deciduous plants (plants that lose their
leaves) during the dormant winter season, before the spring
growing season. There are fewer pests to invade wounds in winter,
and it’s easier to see the branches when there are no leaves.
Delay major pruning of broadleaf evergreens until mid to late
February.
Fertilizer facts
Plants growing in shade generally require less fertilizer than
those grown in sun because they have a lower metabolic rate.
Plants growing in sandy soils usually require more frequent
fertilization than those in clay soils. The nutrients leach from
sandy soils.
Fertilizing during the winter does plants little good because
they’re not actively manufacturing food through photosynthesis.
Much of the nitrogen and potassium applied in the winter will
simply leach from the soil.
Roots of ornamental plants don’t go dormant as the tops of the
plant do and are more easily injured by cold. So protect plants
in containers during subfreezing weather.
That reminds me: I’ve got five plants in containers that I need
to do something about. I’d better be paying attention to this
myself.
(Mike Isbell is the Heard County Extension Coordinator with
the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.)
