(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jennifer Fairfield of The Garden Mill for the photo and information in this column. This is the second part of this column. Part one ran yesterday.)
Soil tests
If your garden didn’t do as well as you had hoped this year, consider doing a soil test now so that you can determine if you need to add anything to your soil in the spring. It’s better to do that now, rather than in the spring, so that you can get the nutrients added in early spring, before doing any planting.
I’m hopeful that we got our share last year, and will be spared this year, but if we get any heavy snowfalls, be careful about removing snow from tree and shrub branches. Heavy snow can weigh down and potentially break branches, but it’s easy to do more harm than good, if you’re not careful. Use a broom, and gentle upward motions to sweep away the snow. Banging on frozen branches to shake off snow can break them.
Care for fresh greens
Are you getting fresh greens for the holidays, such as a wreath for your front door and roping for your porch railing or fence, or a swag for your mantle? If so, keep them fresh longer by spraying with water when the temperatures are above freezing.
If you are bringing greens inside, including a Christmas tree, you can spray them with an anti-desiccant before bringing them in to help prevent drying. Make sure to follow the label directions, and allow the tree or greens to fully dry before bringing indoors. And don’t forget to put your tree in water and replenish it regularly throughout the season – dry trees can be a real fire hazard.
The Garden Mill has a great selection of wreaths, swags, garland and loose greens, all from a local Michigan family farm. The scouts are also selling trees and greens from local farms.
Cold weather tips for birds
With the cold temperatures, birds can use all the help they can get in the form of food, water, and shelter. Keep you feeders full, so that the birds don’t have to waste precious energy searching for food.
Leave birdhouses out all winter, if they are not susceptible to breakage from freezing temps, and clean them out. Birds will be thankful for an empty birdhouse to huddle together in to keep warm at night.
Consider putting a de-icer in your birdbath, so that your birds have a source of fresh water all winter. Water is as essential as food, and becomes much harder to find in the winter.
