Gardening Q&A

How do I start tomatoes now so I have good-sized plants for spring?

It's a little more complicated that just dropping seeds into a pot. You need to fool the seeds into thinking it's spring, that the ground is warming and it's time to sprout. The best bet is using a warming pad under the pots, and then having lights hung just above the pots to use when the seeds sprout. Most garden centers carry all the supplies you'll need, and there's also plenty of detailed help online.

My scented geraniums are showing some signs of damage from the cold. Can I save them?

The hardiest ones are the rose-scented geraniums. The most frost-susceptible is the peppermint geranium. However, even if the foliage is damaged and needs to be cut completely back, the root system is usually fine, and the plants come back as soon as it is safe. When the nights or days are going to be chillier than the plants can tolerate, cover them with a light blanket or newspaper. There are also covers you can buy at the local garden center to protect plants from frost. Even dumping leaves over the plant will offer some protection. If it's a geranium that is hard to replace, take some cuttings, put them in soil and bring the pots inside.

 

Is it true that watering your plants before a frost will help protect them from freezing?

Yes, it is, in certain circumstances. If there's been a dry spell and freezing temperatures are expected, water your plants. Get the roots and foliage wet. Water freezes at a slightly higher temperature than the foliage, so the ice can act as a protective barrier. For more sensitive plants such as gardenias, you may still have some frost damage, but hopefully you won't lose the plant. There are also covers you can put over plants to help protect them. Although these methods work well, they aren't designed to allow you to grow palm trees at high altitudes in the snow. The exception to this rule involves succulents. Lightly water them once a month. Bring them under cover near the house if you can. Overwatered succulents turn to mush when the thermometer dips below 32 degrees.

My garden needs some cheering up in the winter. What plants bloom during winter?

The list is quite extensive. Shrubs include daphne, camellia, rosemary, loropetalum and more. There are bulbs you can plant in the fall for winter flowers: daffodils, hyacinths, paperwhites and crocus. Don't forget plants with berries: nandina, beautyberry, pyracantha (if you have lots of room), cotoneaster and more. If you grow roses, don't deadhead them and they will make rose hips (seedpod), which can be very attractive. Visit your local nursery to see what's in bloom.

When should I trim my Japanese maple tree?

I usually wait until winter is firmly entrenched before doing any pruning, typically in December or January. Cut away any dead branches or twigs first. Next, cut away any branches that are crossed or rubbing each other. Step back and take a look. Often, this is all that's needed. Any additional trimming would be for shaping.

When do I cut back ornamental grasses?

Ornamental grasses such as miscanthus and Calamagrostis look beautiful as they develop fall colors. They aren't brilliant—mostly shades of gold—but they are striking. Leave them until December. By then, winter will have washed the colors away. Any later and the grasses will start to fall apart and become messy. Be careful when cutting them to the ground, because some have sharp edges. Their foliage is called blades for a reason!