From Our Habitat Garden Late February 2012

Winter Blooms This has been a very mild winter. This has been a very mild winter. Temperatures hit the high 50’s yesterday (February 22nd) and will increase into the 60’s today! Temperatures hit the high 50’s yesterday (February 22nd) and will increase into the 60’s today! Hellebores (on left) are out all over my garden! Hellebores (on left) are out all over my garden!

Other Blooms Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’) sends out its spicy scent as well as its golden flowers in protected sunlit corners of the shade garden. Plants like witch hazels, winter hazels, bulbs and spring ephemerals bloom in early spring before the leaves of woodland trees unfurl. Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’) sends out its spicy scent as well as its golden flowers in protected sunlit corners of the shade garden. Plants like witch hazels, winter hazels, bulbs and spring ephemerals bloom in early spring before the leaves of woodland trees unfurl.

Spring Clean-up To help wildlife get through the winter, I make a point out of NOT “cleaning” up the garden in the fall. To help wildlife get through the winter, I make a point out of NOT “cleaning” up the garden in the fall. Instead, I leave all berries, seed heads and food sources for birds (and rodents, I guess) on the plants so they will be available when they are most needed. Instead, I leave all berries, seed heads and food sources for birds (and rodents, I guess) on the plants so they will be available when they are most needed.

Perennials In late winter, I start cleaning up by cutting back the perennials that have depleted their seed sources. In late winter, I start cleaning up by cutting back the perennials that have depleted their seed sources. While cutting back, I am careful to keep the egg cases of Praying Mantids that will hatch later in spring. While cutting back, I am careful to keep the egg cases of Praying Mantids that will hatch later in spring.

Cutting Back Shrubs Among the plants I cut back each year are the red-twig (Cornus sericea) and yellow-twig dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea) which produce stronger, more colorful twigs when they are pruned this way. Among the plants I cut back each year are the red-twig (Cornus sericea) and yellow-twig dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea) which produce stronger, more colorful twigs when they are pruned this way. I put the cut stems in wet sand or water (adding golden willow stems to help in the rooting process) and use these for decoration, even as early as Christmas. I put the cut stems in wet sand or water (adding golden willow stems to help in the rooting process) and use these for decoration, even as early as Christmas.

Cutting Back Virtues Other shrubs that benefit from this type of cutting back (also referred to as “stooling”) include: Other shrubs that benefit from this type of cutting back (also referred to as “stooling”) include: Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ – producing deeper purple foliage colors when cut back this way. Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ – producing deeper purple foliage colors when cut back this way. Salix alba Vitellina ‘Britzensis’ – producing orange stems in the winter and also controlling for height. Salix alba Vitellina ‘Britzensis’ – producing orange stems in the winter and also controlling for height. Paulownia tomentosa – can be grown as a shrub with huge leaves instead of a tall, rangy tree if trained this way. Paulownia tomentosa – can be grown as a shrub with huge leaves instead of a tall, rangy tree if trained this way.

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