Vande Hey Design Center

Monday, November 26, 2012

Protecting Your Garden from Wisconsin Winters

 
Here is a second installment of our articles on preparing your yard for Wisconsin winters. To assure that you will have fabulous color welcoming the spring to your garden, here are some tips on putting your flower gardens “to bed”.

  • Prune – Though it is usually appealing to tidy your garden in the fall, pruning most plants is not necessary this time of year. In fact, left-over foliage can usually provide some winter protection for your flower bed. Most perennials can be pruned in the fall or spring depending on your preference. However, if they need to be cut back to promote healthy growth, they should be removed once done blooming and browning. Also, if any of your plants showed signs of disease or insects, those should definitely be cut far back and composted.

  • Mulch – Mulching your beds is best done with shredded leaves, evergreen needles, or straw as these options will create a breathable covering for your plants and still protect them from winter conditions and limit predators. Oftentimes the type of mulch you use can also enrich your soil once decomposed. Feel free to add a layer of shredded bark if you already have that spread in your plant bed. However, limit this mulch at the base of your perennials and shrubs as too much covering could cause root rot in your plant.



Monday, November 12, 2012

It's a Wrap!

As Wisconsin weather is repeatedly unpredictable, who can guess what the upcoming winter could bring? However, whether a torrent of snow or unexpectedly mild temperatures, you can prepare your yard for this season. For the next couple of weeks this blog will outline winter-prep tips starting with wrapping your young trees.

The most recommended and common type of tree wrap is kraft paper as it is a biodegradable material and will not girdle the trunk if left on too long. Secondly, it can be found at a reasonable price in comparison with certain plastics or burlaps used to wrap trunks. When covered with this protective layering, trees are shielded from sun scald and rodents throughout the winter. Currently available at our design center, for only $9.99 you can get a 3"x 50' roll of Clark's Tree Wrap. This is definitely an investment worth making. We hope to see you soon!