Tips for Caring for Your Garden This Winter

Winter is here, and sometimes people think this means they can leave their garden and landscaping alone until the spring. However, there are several things you can do to maintain your garden during the winter months. We have a garden center serving Lititz, so we have a few suggestions on some winter garden care chores you can do now that could save you some time and hassle when the weather starts to warm up again.

Christmas Tree

After the holidays, don’t just toss your Christmas tree! Put it in a bucket of damp sand out in your backyard. Decorate it with strings of cranberries and popcorn. Spread peanut butter on pine cones and dip them in birdseed and hang them up on the tree too. You will attract some beautiful winter birds and give them another tree to nest in.

Plant Containers

Take the time to empty out your plant containers and store them somewhere dry. If you leave them outside with old soil in them, that soil could get damp and then expand when the soil freezes. If that happens, it could cause your plant containers to break.

Compost and Mulch

If you compost, be sure the refuse you throw in there is not infested with bugs or other pests. You could inadvertently introduce them into your plants this spring if you aren’t careful! You should also be sure you are keeping up with mulching. While this is not a fun chore, especially when it’s cold out, this is a great way to help maintain your garden and landscaping when it’s cold out. If you are unsure of what type of mulch you should be using, just visit our garden center and we can help you out!

Snow and Ice

After a snow or ice storm, do not walk on your grass and don’t allow your pets to either, if you can help it. Walking on frozen grass could cause the blades to break and die, and that could result in unsightly brown patches in your grass this spring. 

These are just a few ways you can keep your garden and landscaping looking good this winter! For more helpful hints, visit us at our garden center.

Are you interested in learning more about our garden center serving Lititz and the surrounding areas? Call Root’s Nurseries at 717-898-0041 or contact us and get a Free Estimate.

It’s Fall! Time to Plant Trees!

It seems almost counter-intuitive, but fall tree planting is a very common practice and it is actually recommended by arborists and gardeners alike. There are a few reasons fall tree planting is a great idea.

In the fall, temperatures start to drop and rain begins to increase in most areas. But the soil still stays warm, so the roots have time to take hold and grow before the worst of the cold weather hits. And before the winter starts to get really cold, there will be a few frosts and the trees will go dormant and will be less active. 

Fall tree planting means that the roots will grow, and that means they will be nice and ready to drink up water when the spring rolls around again. And this means the roots are going to be able to access that water better. Plus, there is less stress on the tree if it needs to be transplanted in the spring.

It is best to do fall tree planting with a tree that has its root system wrapped in burlap, or for trees that are in containers. Trees that are planted in the fall also require less water overall. Plus, the fall sun is a lot less harsh than the spring and summer sun. So that means the leaves are less likely to burn and suffer other damage from the harsh and hot sun.

Fall tree planting also means you might have more of a selection of trees to choose from. Usually, in the fall, tree selection is at its peak. So you should have your choice of trees to choose from when you are ready to do your fall tree planting!

For more information on fall tree planting, call Root’s Nurseries at 717-898-0041 or you can contact us for a Free Estimate.