Countryside Corner
Neighborly Garden News
Issue 140
December 2023
Dear readers; please visit our website: www.countrysidelandscape.net for the safety measures we have in place during this pandemic.
No more dull brown winters-
Add plants with colorful stems & bark
Probably the only reason I enjoy seeing it snow, is that it will hide the unrelenting dreary brown tones of winter; frozen soil, dead leaves, grey bark, yuck. Fortunately, there are certain species of trees and shrubs that come into their second glory after they drop their leaves. These plants have been cultivated for their unusual bark, that provides visual appeal, when all else is faded and dull.
The genus Cornus is the dogwood family, and there are several species and cultivars with outstanding stem and bark colors. One of my favorites is Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, which looks like the brightest of winter sunsets; having varying shades of yellow, orange and red on each stem. Another variety of C. sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ also has boldly colored red and orange stems. For the best coloration, plant them in direct sun, and plan to prune them to encourage new growth after they become established. The best color is found on new growth. Try growing two contrasting colors adjacent to each other; Cornus sericea ‘Bud’s Yellow’ is bright neon yellow, C. sericea ‘Arctic Fire’ is flame red.
Midwinter Fire Dogwood
Bud’s Yellow Dogwood
Arctic Fire Dogwood
Willow trees are typically fast growing, and the young branches of the scarlet Willow, Salix alba ‘Britzensis’ are blood red and gold. The golden Willow S. alba var. Vitellina ‘Golden Ness’ has bright gold stems that really shine through dull winter days. Willows are very adaptable to soil conditions and will tolerate wet soil and partial sun. Willows are also considered deer resistant. For the best show of colorful stems, Willows should be pollarded every year.
Scarlet Willow
We are lucky to have two of the most beautifully barked Birches native to our area; The River Birch, Betula nigra, and the Paper Birch, Betula papyrifera. Of the two, the River Birch is more adaptable to varying growing conditions. The Paper Birch is limited to areas with consistently moist soil and will become stressed by too much heat and humidity. Under stress the Paper Birch often falls victim to the dreaded Birch borer insect, which can compromise the lifespan of the tree. Both of these Birches are considered fast growing trees and have attractive bark at all stages of their life.
River Birch bark
Paper Birch-the classic New England tree
Prunus serrula or the ‘Paperbark Cherry’ has satiny textured, copper colored bark that really shines on sunny winter days. The bark will begin to peel in soft strips as it ages, adding to their winter interest. Paperbark Cherry blooms in early spring, with a profusion of white flowers. Despite being a non-native, it is host to the caterpillar of the Eastern tiger Swallowtail butterfly.
Paperbark Cherry
December’s to-do list
As we close out December, and the year 2023, I’d have to say we have weathered possibly the worst growing season in my memory. If I were a newbie gardener, the toll my veggie garden suffered may have turned me off growing, permanently. Here in western MA, we broke records for rainfall, heat, and late spring frosts, leading to failures of many kinds of crops. Still, I stress the word weathered; we have come through it all and persevered. This years’ failures will be next season’s triumphs, and I will always be hopeful with every seed I plant, bountiful fruit will follow. Thank you to all our Countryside clients: “Wishing you all the happiest of holidays, and a Peaceful New Year!”
I have found out the hard way that our protracted warm autumn weather has extended the range of active tick season. I received a tick bite in Mid-November, and immediately became very ill from it! I’m so very thankful for quick intervention with antibiotics from my health provider. Our new puppy has had ticks crawling on him after almost every walk. Be prepared for active ticks seeking a meal throughout the winter months, even with freezing weather.
There is still time to apply deer repellent spray or erect deer fencing to protect your vulnerable plants. Deer are nocturnal feeders; we usually only see the aftermath of their browsing behavior the following morning. Browsing from deer escalates during the winter when natural food becomes unavailable, repellent sprays can offer you 24/7 protection. We offer this service—please contact us if you wish to protect your plants from deer over the winter.
If you haven’t already inserted stakes along the edges of your driveway to mark the areas to be plowed, don’t forget to do this before the ground freezes. This helps the person clearing your snow do their best job, minimizing damage to your lawn, and garden beds.
I noticed signs of chewing on a few plants I had brought indoors for the winter; sure enough I found some very chunky caterpillars hiding under the leaves. Check indoor houseplants after you’ve brought them in, for signs of insects that may have hatched out. A good ‘shower’ in your tub or sink will wash off anything crawling around. Stationary insects like mealy bugs or scale insects, will require more effort to get rid of them. Alcohol on a cotton swab is a low-tech method, but you can also use Safer’s brand insecticidal soap, or a systemic type insecticide. Repeat applications according to the label directions for the pest.
A fun, kid-friendly project is growing veggie plants using your vegetable scraps. The leafy parts of carrots, beets, parsnips, and celery can be saved and allowed to sprout in water. Here’s a good link for the how-to:https://www.gardentech.com/blog/gardening-and-healthy-living/growing-food-from-kitchen-scraps#:~:text=Just%20cut%20off%20the%20plant’s,sunny%20indoor%20windowsill%20year%2Dround.Engaging our kids with garden projects will help get them ready to start their own gardens next summer!
Hungry rodents and rabbits are just waiting for snow cover to begin snacking on your trees and shrubs. Protect trees from rabbits using hardware cloth or steel mesh with 0.5” diameter holes. The barriers should be 48” tall, and have about 1’ buried to prevent burrowing. I advocate using snap traps to kill voles and mice; it is a very quick and humane demise. Mice are hosts to the black legged tick, the vital link in the Lyme disease cycle. They are looking for warm winter homes, like inside your house, right now! Set traps beneath boxes or buckets around the exterior foundation, as they like to creep into these dark places. Voles are notorious for gnawing on lower stems of roses, shrubs, and trees, while they are hidden under snow. They also find bulbs and fleshy roots of perennials very tasty, stop them before they do their damage!
Need help getting ready for winter? Give our office a call today. (413) 458-5586 info@countrysidelandscape.net
It’s not your imagination, it is getting warmer!
Last month the USDA released its updated plant hardiness zone map. It’s the national standard for gardeners and growers to figure out which plants are most likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures in their location. This is the first update to the zone map in over a decade. The 2023 map shows that the average temperature has increased by 2.5’F throughout the contiguous US.
2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Map
The new map indicates that about half the country has eased into a new half zone. The Pioneer valley used to be considered zone 5b, now it is in 6a. The Williamstown area used to be 5a, now it is 5b. In our area this shift will not impact what will be able to withstand our winter; it is still going to be cold with potential for below zero temperatures.
2023 Updated USDA Plant Hardiness Map
Southern regions, however, are having to adapt to managing plants not acclimated to grow well in a hotter climate. Hotter weather also promotes plant killing fungi that spread much more rapidly in these conditions. Chris Daly, director of the PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University that jointly developed the map with the USDA. Daly says he is hesitant to explicitly attribute the specific changes from the 2012 map to the 2023 map to climate change because of the volatility of the key statistic they used to create this map. “Changes to plant hardiness zones are not necessarily reflective of global climate change because of the highly variable nature of the extreme minimum temperature of the year.” But Daly says, in the big picture, climate change is playing a role in changing what grows where in the US: “Over the long run, we will expect to see a slow shifting northward of zones as climate change takes hold.”
The scientific community overwhelmingly agrees that humans burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas is the primary driver of global warming. The summer of 2023 was the hottest meteorological summer on record for the northern hemisphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ultimately its going to keep on getting hotter, we must strive for policy changes that will help slow climate change down.
Thinking ahead…
As a gardener, the winter season seems the hardest part of the year. The landscape is mostly barren, days are short, and sometimes it stays dull and overcast for days on end. Worst of all, nothing is in bloom outdoors. We can yearn for better weather, and sunnier days. Until then, here is a short list of flowering plants that start blooming very early in the spring.
Abeliophyllum distichum, the white Forsythia has a more compact growth habit than its yellow cousin. Fragrant pinkish-white flowers bloom in March on a rounded shrub with arching branches. White Forsythia likes to grow in full sun, will mature to 3-5’ tall x 3-4’ wide.
Abeliophyllum distichum
Hamamelis x intermedia, hybrid witch-hazel has very fragrant ribbon-like flowers in shades of yellow, copper, or red. Blooming February through March, flowering can last for over a month, during a barren time in the landscape. Fall foliage is deep red and yellow. Depending on the cultivar will grow 10-20’ tall, with a broad-spreading, to upright vase-shaped silhouette.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’
Erica carnea, the Spring Heath is a must for the early spring garden. Masses of rose-pink to white flowers occur January through March. Heath requires well drained, acid soil, and prefers a sunny spot. Spring Heath is an evergreen groundcover; 1’ tall x 1-2’ wide.
Erica carnea
Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten Rose has evergreen leaves & blooms January through May on 12-24” stems. Lenten Rose grows best in humus rich soil, and likes full to part sun. Helleborus can self-sow and spread when it becomes established, so watch out for seedlings.
Helleborus orientalis
Daphne mezereum, the February Daphne actually blooms in March in our area, the very fragrant vivid pink flowers are worth the wait. February Daphne develops showy bright red fruit that complements the dark blue-green leaves, after the flowers have faded. Daphne will grow 3-5’ tall x 3-5’ wide.
Daphne mezereum