As you’ve likely heard, last week Punxatawney Phil said we should expect six more weeks of winter. For home gardeners, this is probably not what you wanted to hear. Still, there are steps you can take to make sure you’re prepared for when warmer weather is here to stay.
We talked to Erin Kiley, master gardener coordinator of Pennsylvania, to get some advice in the wake of Phil’s prognostication.
Erin Kinley is the senior extension program manager and state master gardener coordinator for the Penn State Extension in Collegeville, PA.
Groundhogs Can Be Mischievous
First things first, Kinley says to know your (garden) enemies. “Groundhogs are typically not our friends in the garden, so we should be very skeptical of their horticultural advice,” Kinley says. While they look sweet, groundhogs can be quite the garden saboteur, which makes us think perhaps Phil is purposefully trying to throw us off. Don’t let the rodents conspire against you!
Another member of the rodent family, the vole, loves snowy winters because they can tunnel beneath it to chomp on your trees and shrubs. “Check the bases of trees and shrubs regularly to make sure they aren’t being munched on,” Kinley says.
Start Your Leafy Veggies Now
According to Kinley, February is the perfect time to get a jump-start on your vegetable gardening, especially for kale, broccoli, spinach, and other cold-season crops. “These crops prefer cooler temperatures and actually taste best when planted very early in the season,” Kinley says. “If you start the seeds in February, most will be big enough to plant outside by early April.”
Not all vegetables thrive in the cold. “Tomatoes need soil temperatures of at least 60°F for the best growth,” Kinley says. “Planting into cold soil risks stunting the plants for the rest of the season.”
Native Plants Can Handle the Cold
If Phil ends up telling the truth, that doesn’t mean your plants are automatically in danger, especially if they’re native to your region—or one that shares your weather patterns. “Plants native to temperate climates aren’t typically bothered by extended cold periods in winter, since they are naturally adapted to those conditions,” Kinley says.
Believe it or not, snow also helps these plants by providing insulation that protects against extreme weather. Plus, it helps keep your plants’ roots hydrated.
Watch Out for Salt Damage
While snow can be a gardener’s friend, salt—another winter fixture—is not. “With a lot of winter weather and freezing temperatures, people are salting their sidewalks more often. If you start seeing sick-looking plants or grass next to a sidewalk this spring, there is a good chance it could be caused by salt damage.”
Salt damage can manifest as:
Browning leaves or needlesBranch diebackPremature leaf drop and wiltingNutrient deficienciesReduced fruiting or flowering
You can treat salt damage in a few different ways, including by rinsing affected plants gently with water and pruning damaged stems.
Healthy Soil Is Everything
“Soil health is the #1 essential to a resilient garden!” Kinley says. “Whether you are growing veggies or ornamental plants, mulch insulates the soil, adds organic matter, and helps maintain soil moisture year-round.”
Kinley and the master gardeners of Pennsylvania recommend testing your garden soil every 3-5 years “to make sure it has a healthy amount of organic matter and nutrients.” Rich soil also has an added benefit come springtime. “Soil rich in organic matter is also dark, which helps it warm up faster in the spring,” Kinley adds.
Comments are closed.