We are now in the midst of the coldest weather of the season. Even so, there are still gardening chores to do. Remember to mulch marginally hardy perennials to hold in ground heat. Broadleaved evergreens continue to transpire (and therefore to lose water) in winter so don’t forget to water during dry periods. Transplanting can be done when the ground is not frozen; just be sure to water them in to remove air spaces that allow cold air to enter the root zone.

Winter is the time of year when structure in the garden is most important. Paths (straight or curving), walls (plants or hard scape), and focal points (artwork or plants) that often are not thought of during the months of heavy bloom and foliage, become the things most noticeable. Evergreen foliage and the structure of trees become the focus. Winter is time to reevaluate garden layout. Where do you need screening? Where is a spot of green needed? Does that fountain or other garden art need a winter backdrop?

However cold, we still can have a little color in the winter garden in eastern North Carolina. Lenten roses, camellia, winter flowering apricot and honeysuckle, as well as quince, daphne, paper bush, and rosemary add both color and fragrance to the winter garden. The blooms we get in January are our reminder that spring is not far ahead.

We’re finally having a taste of fall with temperatures barely reaching into the 70’s in eastern North Carolina. What a change from the 90’s! Many of us are still removing debris from Irene and some (like me) are rethinkg our shade gardens that have now become much sunnier. Fall is the best time for planting most woodies and hardy perennials since the warm soils will promote root growth before the plants go dormant in a few weeks. Just remember that we can still have warm, dry weather in October and even into November so do not neglect watering new transplants.

Since so many trees went down in the hurricane, many are evaluating trees on their property. When in doubt about health and safetly of damaged trees consult a certified arborist before making an expensive and unnecessary removal decision. Often even damaged trees can be saved and will not pose a hazard. Large areas of decay on the main trunk are unsafe, as well as dead branches and poor branch attachment. Small trees that have fallen over can be safely righted and staked if they are less than four inches in diameter. Any tree over eight inches should be removed since root redevelpment is very slow on older trees and the risk of falling over in subsequent storms is likely.

Just a reminder that Eastern North Carolina is dry, dry dry. Don’t forget to water any plants that are not established and plants in containers. The wind we have been experiencing causes even more rapid water loss in plants. After a long winter we all need a reminder that it’s time to get back in the habit of checking moisture in the soil!

In recognition of Invasive Plant Awareness Week (which was actually last week) I have very strong words for an invasive that continues to be sold in our state. Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet) was introduced to the US in 1852 and has mostly been used for hedging. Since then it has escaped cultivation and spread throughout the Southeast and Midwest. In Eastern North Carolina it is evergreen to semi-evergreen with 1-1.5″ elliptic, smooth-edged leaves. The small black fruits (of which a single shrub can produce hundreds) ripen in August and September and are primarily dispered by birds. Variegated varieties remain popular even though the shrub tends to be leggy and grows so rapidly as to require several pruinings in a growing season. Natural bottomland plant species are rapidly being displaced by this aggressive plant. See our Facebook page for a picture of escaped
L. sinense

Special: Brown Turkey fig 3 gallon $9.99 while supplies last

Plant of the week: Edgeworthia chrysantha (paperbush)

A relative of Daphne, paperbush is a deciduous shrub reaching 5′ in height and equally as wide. The leaves are large (4″ long) and blue-green giving the plant a tropical look in summer. The most stricking characteristic of paperbush is the fragrant, creamy-yellow, lemon-scented flowers in winter. In eastern North Carolina blooms can begin as early as late January and continue into late March. Paperbush requires moist, well-drained soils and can tolerate full sun to part shade.

Availiable in 3 gallon containers for $26.00

Welcome to my new website!

Well, winter is not over yet, but today I am pretending it is spring since the forecast high is almost 60 degrees! Lenten roses are blooming along with a few daffodils and winter flowering apricot. I can smell the winter honeysuckle as soon as I walk outdoors! Don’t fret if your pansies look a little weather-beaten. Pinch off the dead blooms and yellow leaves and cross your fingers that we are past nights where the temperatures dip into the teens.