Winter and Your Plants - Southern Oregon
Winter... December, January and February in Southern Oregon can be the slowest season for working in your garden. It is also an idea time for most pruning because winter dormancy makes this ideal, as mentioned in my Winter Dormancy Pruning article.
Here's a basic list of ideal things to consider doing during the winter months.
Cut back watering your house plants.
The number one killer of house plants is over watering. Your plants are especially vulnerable to this during the winter months because of reduced light intensity. They will often tell you they are getting too much water with yellowing leaves that drop off.
You can check moisture levels by sticking your finger down into the soil past your first knuckle - deeper for larger pots. If it is dry then it is time to water. Never use the surface soil as the meter for watering... always go deeper to get an accurate read. When you do this along with listening to your plants they will tell you if they need water.
When you water make sure you saturate the soil of the entire container, which should create drainage into the pan under your pot.
Prune Apple and Pear trees.
Deciduous trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted as long as the ground is not frozen. Oak, Maple, and Elm are all examples of deciduous trees. Azalea, Black Lace, and Viburnum are all examples of deciduous shrubs.
Deciduous means having leaves that fall off every year.
Prune Birch trees and vines like Wisteria to avoid bleeding.
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