It’s February and our gardens are alive !
Our garden plants are still dormant, waiting for spring. But there is life in and around our gardens right now.
Are Your Pruners as Sharp as mine ?
Do you ask yourself:
When do I prune my plants ? How do I do it ? What result am I hoping to achieve ?
A general rule of thumb is to prune out dying, diseased, damaged or dead as you see it. The other times, pruning is usually done for training, restricting, balancing or creating a pattern of growth, controlling flower and fruit quality & maintaining plant health and are season and plant dependant. The times chosen are late winter when things are dormant, spring as buds emerge & pruning following spring bloom. There are many books & on line sites/blogs that describe methods for pruning trees and shrubs. Also, closer to home, many garden clubs have members who have horticultural backgrounds or life long experience who are willing to give a little coaching.
Grasses, Perrienels and shrubs with seeds that have been left for the birds can be cut back just before new growth .
In the meantime, while waiting, enjoy the warmth in the February sunshine and have a look at the critters who are reminding us that we can learn a lot from the plants and critters in our gardens. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have wierd names and all are different in color, shape and size, but they all live in and contribute to the beauty in the same community.
Listen. You will hear the song sparrow soon.