Chủ Nhật, 20 tháng 11, 2011

"Winter interest" in a garden of mummies... or a garden only the gardener could find appealing... (due to the fact that I know what's hiding below this sea of burlap!)



What is this all about, you may ask... the answer is "it's about this"...


There abide in this rock garden, a number of miniature and dwarf conifers for the most part. This was their first season here at Oak Lawn. Some are very hardy... others not so much. Some, as with miniature and full sized cultivars of alberta spruce, tend to burn badly in a spring exposure to sun and wind despite being very hardy. Each plant I install deserves at least three years of extra protection. This is not a big deal with small plants such as these... I have a collection of tomato cages which in turn support my collection of old fashioned heavy burlap bags. I am in the process of covering a great many small conifers in this fashion. So much for winter interest/winter beauty with conifers... at least for a few years.


Larger plants present a larger problem. I know from experience that many of my pines getting spring full sun and dessicating winds will burn badly. It has to do with the plants calling for moisture from a root system that is frozen in the ground. These include the densifloras, flexilis, and some of the strobus varieties. Many are too large to wrap and will generally recover in fairly short order in the spring. Others take a very long time to regain their composure. Some conifers such as Alberta spruces may not recover... hence the big mummies in the gardens.




The above, assures that which is pictured below...




Some of the large mummies contain Japanese maples. I have a number of concerns here in their first years in the gardens. Rabbits find them quite tasty, and there can also be hardiness issues here. However, my biggest concern involves very cold spring winds. The maples generally leaf out fairly early and delicate foliage can be destroyed. Anything that I can do to keep those winds off them is greatly appreciated by the plants. Therefore, this...




... is a small insurance policy for this...




... as is this...




... for this.




One of my favorite fall things is seeing the fresh buds of the magnolias that will burst into bloom come spring. Rabbits have an unhealthy appetite (particularly if I get my hands on them!) for magnolias as well and will do great damage even to a good sized trunk. For that reason, the following tree looks to have quite a number of bandaides on its trunks and branches. I will probably end up adding a fence of chicken wire as well...




Low maintenance gardening... no, but well worth the extra effort come spring...




I have quite an amount of protection to install yet, and one of the eaiest techniques involves simply laying a burlap bag over spreading plants. By using the heavier weight burlap of old bags, it isn't necessary to even weight it down, as it will be damp from rain and that will generally keep it in place for the winter. I will use this technique on plants such Picea abies 'Little Gem' which is hardy but does burn when left to its own devices. I prune my hollies low and use this technique with them as well. I have some concerns with the burlap available on rolls today as it is very thin and I have had plants burn despite wrapping them in it.


Other plants, such as the lewisias which don't tolorate winter moisture very well, are planted in hyper tuffa which allows them to be moved into an unheated garage for the winter, thus keeping their feet dry...





Basically, all the trees needing trunk wraps have had them installed. I still need to install a great amount of chicken wire against the damage that rabbits will create if plants are left unprotected. Just because these precautions are taken, doesn't mean there won't be significant damage. Snow often reaches higher than the protection, creating the need to get into the garden often in the winter. Voles are another problem and there isn't a lot that can be done... this sort of task is best left to the ferrel cats of the neighborhood. So... on to the long weeks of winter... not so discouraging if I complete my fall chores of trying to outsmart the many critters that like to come to Oak Lawn for a smorgasboard... take care, Larry





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