My Winter Reading List

   Last year was fantastic for gardening! We enjoyed steady rainfall and ended up with slightly above average precipitation for the year. Although the rain made it difficult at times to get out and mow the lawn or plant flowers, it helped our gardens flourish.

   In 2009, we also saw a resurgence in the number of people who grow their own food - and an increasing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of gardening. Put all of this together and the outlook for 2010 is very positive!

   I think it’s going to be a glorious spring. Granted, it has been cold. But there has been plenty of snow cover and moisture to help protect plants from the ravages of winter. This means cherries, plums and pears will be exploding into bloom by April, followed by serviceberry, dogwoods and redbuds. Bulbs and pansies will be blooming - and all this color will create lots of excitement among gardeners who have been cooped up all winter. Start making plans for what you want to do in your garden this spring. It’ll be here in no time.

   My winter gardening project consists of reading a few interesting books. I just finished “Red Oaks and Black Birches: The Science and Lore of Trees” by Rebecca Rupp. Unless you want to pickle walnuts, make coffee from acorns or tap trees for syrup, there’s probably very little useful information for you in this book. But if you enjoy learning about the history of how people use plants and some of the science behind it, this is a very good book. The writing style keeps it interesting and leaves a lasting impression of the interdependence between plants and people.

   Next on my list is “Legends In The Garden: Who in the World is Nellie Stevens?” by Linda L. Copeland and Allan M. Armitage. A few months ago, I attended one of Allan’s lectures. He shared some of his intriguing stories about the people who introduced many of our favorite garden plants, such as Nellie Stevens Holly and Brackens’ Brown Beauty Magnolia. Legends in the Garden is a collection of these and many other stories that I can’t wait to read.

   Third on my list is “What’s Wrong with My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?)” by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth. Unlike the previous two books, this is a very practical, “how to” guide on diagnosing and correcting plant problems. Because this is essentially what I do for a living, I’m always interested - and usually skeptical - about any books on this topic. But at first glance, this appears to be a very easy to use and reliable resource. And it has received good reviews. Please let me know what you think about these books or any others you read this winter.

   Winter is such a perfect time to be reading and attending gardening classes that I now view it as another gardening season. Just like the other seasons, there’s so much to do and so little time. Don’t let this valuable time slip away. There’s always more to learn about gardening. A great book or the free Landscaping and Gardening Seminars that begin this month at all three of the Merrifield Garden Center locations are fantastic opportunities to feed your passion for gardening.

Vegetable, Herb & Flower Seeds: It’s time to start making your plans to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed. At Merrifield Garden Center, we carry a huge and exciting selection of garden seeds, including new hybrids, heirloom varieties and organically produced seeds. Purchase now for the best selection. Many seeds can be started indoors to get an early start for this spring. Generally speaking, planting time is six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. So gardeners in our Washington D.C. metropolitan area should start planting in late February through March. Be sure to read the seed package for specific instructions on when to start planting.

Birds: Don’t forget to feed our feathered friends this winter as natural food sources can be scarce at this time of year and birds need high energy food to help them survive the cold weather. Watching birds as they gather around a feeder provides a wonderful opportunity to get an up close look at their beautiful colors, see the details of their plumage and observe their behavior. We carry a wide selection of bird seed, suet cakes, feeders and houses.

Pruning: Winter is the best time of the year to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Now that they've shed their leaves, it's easier to see the branching structure. Try following a three-step process: 1, Begin by removing any dead or damaged branches. 2, Then go back through and remove any crossing, rubbing or structurally weak branches. 3, Then prune for shape and size. The only tools you'll need are a good set of pruning shears, a pruning saw and possibly a ladder. If the job requires more than these tools, it's time to call a professional arborist. Check out your trees and shrubs, including cherries, crape myrtles, dogwoods, maples, oaks, etc., to see if any pruning is needed. But don't prune evergreens or hydrangeas now because it'll disrupt flowering this season and possibly lead to winter injury.

Lawns: It’s important to maintain the proper pH level in your soil, otherwise turfgrass growth may be compromised. January and February are ideal months to lime your lawn if you haven’t done so in recent years. Lawns prefer a pH range of 6.2 – 6.8, which typically requires liming in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. If needed, apply 50 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet of lawn. This will raise the pH approximately 0.5 points. If you need to apply more lime, wait six weeks between applications.

Pond Care: If you have fish, it's important to have a floating pond and tank de-icer. The extremely cold weather has caused area ponds to freeze, which traps harmful gases under the ice. Pond de-icers melt the ice to create a small opening for these gases to escape.

Keeping Bambi at Bay: Hungry deer can be troublesome in some areas, but there are many different control strategies to help protect your landscape. Whether it’s growing plants that deer don’t find tasty, using repellents or building fencing or a combination of these methods, you can enjoy a beautiful garden without deer damage. We suggest you visit Merrifield Garden Center and speak with one of our experts, who can help you develop an effective strategy.

Recycling: After enjoying the warmth and comfort of your fireplace, you can use the ashes in your lawn and garden. Wood ashes are a great source of potassium and trace elements, and they reduce the acidity of your soil. Just add the ashes directly to your garden soil or mix them into your compost. Be sure that the ashes are fully extinguished and don't apply more than a five-gallon pail per 1,000-sq. feet of garden area. Excessive amounts can lead to high soil pH and nutrient imbalances.