Fall has arrived in Heber, Utah with flaming colors. I’m going to be bummed to say “goodbye” to my garden until Spring, but I love the snow almost as much as I love my garden! Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to take the necessary steps to protect my trees and shrubs from any winter plant damage. It’s important to do what you can to keep your yard healthy for Spring!
Tip #1: Broken branches often occur after a heavy snow or ice storm. Don’t remove broken tree branches right as they occur. It’s best to wait till the end of winter to prune back any broken branches, unless they present any immediate danger. Prevent broken branches by removing any susceptible trees prior to the first frost.
Tip #2: Easily avoid frost damage when you skip early fall fertilization. By avoiding Fall fertilization, you’ll prevent a sudden, more tender growth. When tender growth sprouts up, it can easily be killed by an unexpected frost.
Tip #3: Dessication occurs when a plant freezes from the inside out, usually as a result of a lack of water. Prevent this by taking note of the weather in the fall, and watering your plants more if the weather is dry. If you find that certain plants of yours are more susceptible, cover the roots with a few inches of Peat Moss to help with water loss throughout the winter.
Tip #4: Frost heave is the worst! It happens when your soil goes through many periods of freezing/thawing conditions. The change in temperature will force your roots out of the ground, exposing them to winter’s worst. Protect your sensitive plants by covering their root systems with a layer of mulch.
Tip #5: Rodent damage is common in the winter months because rodents are often hungry–and looking for organic plant material to munch on. Sometimes, they’ll even remove complete layers of bark! Keep your trees safe and rodent free by covering the trunk of your tree in a layer of galvanized mesh. You can leave the mesh in place all year long!
Tip #6: Salt burn occurs when you pile snow/salt mixture on the base of your tree or plants. Prevent the burn by piling your snow on gravel, away from soil or grass.
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