http://www.ehow.com/how_6807520_grow-azaleas-texas.html Winter has arrived and spring is right around the corner! Is your Hill Country Garden ready? While researching how to treat my new garden this winter, I found these handy-dandy tips from Matthew McCabe over at Hill Country Gardener:
- Prune, prune prune! Winter prune roses and seasonal prune flowers.
- Trim bushes and trees. Now is also a good time for planting new bulbs, trees and bushes.
- Mulching protects sensitive plants and bulbs, and after you've trimmed all plants and shrubs, mulch the ones you cut back to protect from frost.
- Use a good shredded pine mulch around the base of Azaleas to protect from freeze and ensure proper blooming in the spring. This will also provide natural acid and extend the life your your plants, as well.
- While plants are cut back, it's a perfect time to hard-scape (consider your plant growth, though, and whether or not they will eventually bury your hard work!).
- Remember to keep plant beds moist during the winter freezes (will not freeze deep into the soil as it does in northern areas).
- Organic fertilize and/or add bone meal to bulbs and Iris rhizomes.
- Don't forget to move non-freeze-hardy potted plants into the garage or shed.
- For extra freeze protection, wrap sensitive plants with incandescent mini-holiday (not LED) lights under tarps or without tarps, as they provide some warmth and do not burn the plants or tarps. Plastic covers will likely cause more damage than good. Light sheets of cloth tarps are significantly better in protecting the plants from the chill and allows the plants to breathe instead of sweat.
- Use a solution called SUPERthrive to help with the harsh, freezing temperatures. It is a
http://www.superthrive.com/beneficial plant vitamin solution that helps DE-stress your plants and will provide nutrients to help them make it through the winter.
Protect your investment and visit the
Texas Hill Country Gardener and Hill Country Gardens for all your garden needs!
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