You might not think about watering your plants during the winter but it can mean life or death for your new trees in spring. You can water anytime that the ground isn’t frozen. Focus your watering efforts to trees and shrubs planted in the last five years. Find more information in the Post Rock Answers article:
https://www.postrock.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/newspaperarticle/post-rock-answers-winter-watering.pdf
By: Cassie Thiessen
Are you struggling to pick out Christmas gifts for your loved ones? If they are a gardener, consider getting them a gardening book. Winter is the best time to sit down with a gardening book and dream about Spring. This Facebook post shares 5 gardening books that are perfect for the Kansas gardener!
Click the image below
By: Cassie Thiessen
House plants may look a little sad when you bring them inside for the winter and they may even shed a few leaves. Most of this is the plant responding to low light levels. Not only is the day length shorter, but the angle of the sun means sunlight must travel through more atmosphere before it reaches us in the northern latitudes. Each of these factors means less light energy reaches our house plants. House plants respond to this stress by stopping growth and dropping leaves if necessary. So how can we tell if leaves are being dropped due to stress or due to other factors? Normally, stress is the culprit if leaves are dropped throughout the plant and general thinning occurs.
The next question is what do we do about it? Well, you can add supplemental lighting or just wait until longer days and higher light levels allow the plants to recover. Unfortunately, people often decide the plant needs more fertilizer or water to perk it up. Remember the problem is low light, not a lack of fertilizer or water. Adding extra fertilizer or water won’t help, and may actually harm, the plant. If there is plenty of sunlight, the plant can use more water and fertilizer. Under low light levels, the plant doesn’t require much fertilizer and the nutrients stay in the soil where they can build up and may eventually burn roots.
Also, excess water can drown roots. Therefore, it is important to do a good job of watering and fertilizing during the winter. Only water when the soil is dry ½ inch deep in the pot. Eventually you can learn to judge whether a plant needs water just by weight. Also, reduce or eliminate fertilizing during the winter months. If the plant still looks thin in the spring, cut it back so it can put out new, thicker growth. Also, knock the plant out of the pot in the spring and make sure it isn’t root bound. If it is, move it up to a larger pot.
By: Cassie Thiessen
Raking leaves in your lawn can seem like a chore, but fall leaves can actually benefit your plants and soil. Fall leaves can be composted and used as organic matter in the soil. They can also be used as a natural mulch or stockpiled for later use. This article talks about all the uses of fall leaves- https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/lawns/solutions-for-getting-rid-fall-leaves.html
By: Cassie Thiessen
Bird watching is a fun hobby and can be a way to connect with nature in the cold winter months. For more information on how to attract birds to your landscape, watch this Kansas Healthy Yards Video:
By: Cassie Thiessen
If you want beautiful, colorful tulips in the spring, now is the time to plant the bulbs! Spring flowering bulbs are often one of the first signs of spring in the landscape and a wonderful addition to any flower bed.
Planting bulbs can occur any time in the fall but should wrap up by mid to late November. Earlier in the fall is best, as it allows more time for root development. Fertilize when planting using a balanced fertilizer such as a 10-10-10.
Plant bulbs where they will receive full sun. Bulbs should be planted about twice as deep as the height of the bulb. 4-6 inches is a good depth for tulips. Make sure that the soil will drain well, as bulbs are prone to rotting.
Put a little extra effort into your flower beds now to have a beautiful show of color in the spring. For more information on spring flowering bulbs check out this K-State Garden Hour: https://mediasite.k-state.edu/mediasite/Play/bb82330923124f468402d0492fd79c7d1d
By: Cassie Thiessen
Fall is a great time to plant trees. If you are wondering which trees grow best in Kansas, watch this K-State Garden Hour Webinar. Dr. Jason Griffin explains trees that are best suited for Kansas and do well with minimal care.
By: Cassie Thiessen
