Who knows when winter will arrive and I will start feeling guilty about forgetting to mention things that might be helpful getting you through it.
Here is one: shoring up outdoor greenhouses and metal sheds with one or two appropriately cut two-by-fours. We might not get any snow at all, but you need to prepare as if we are going to get several feet and all of it wet and very heavy. A piece of lumber or two isn’t an expensive fix. Having to replace one of these structures in the spring most definitely is.
How about placing markers around to guide you through snow if we get some? You will be glad you marked your driveway and walks so you know what needs to be cleared if it snows. Oh, and don’t forget those outdoor hazards that can get covered and forgotten underneath snow cover. I tripped over one of our “landscape” rocks, which is part of a pattern that happens to sit in the middle of the lawn.
Ouch, we have a turning island made of railroad ties that I neglected to mark one fall. The snowplower definitely found it. All it takes are a few tomato stakes and the job is done. Of course, it has to be accomplished before the ground freezes over.
Oh yeah, you need to get spring-flowering bulbs in the ground before it freezes. My rules: You can plant up to an inch deeper than advised because we have such a long winter. Mulching bulbs is a must, however to insulate the bulb and its roots. Anchorage had the largest shipment of bulbs outside of South Africa and Holland one year only to have no snow. It was a disaster. This was before the idea of mulching ever came to mind.
If you mulch now, the ground will stay unfrozen longer and roots will have an easier time establishing themselves. Grass clippings or leaves make great mulches.
No bone meal is necessary nor advised. You don’t need to feed bulbs. Everything that a bulb needs to flower is in the bulb already. The bone meal will hold moisture and can often result in rotted bulbs.
The rule is to plant as many bulbs as you can possibly afford. You can plant them individually or you can dig up a section of garden or lawn and plant many all at once and then cover with soil followed by mulch. Consider mixing bulb types and within reason, depth to stage blooms out over a longer period of time.
Tulips and daffodils do great. Croci are not as reliable, though mulch makes them almost foolproof. If you can find some of the “lesser” bulbs like galanthus or scilla, load up on them. They are beautiful and unusual in the Alaskan landscape. Plant them where you can see them from a window as they are early performers.
Do make sure to disconnect hoses and timers. Drain them if you are going to store them outdoors.
And finally, get those snow shovels and brooms out and ready to go. Spray blades with WD-40. Get new shovels if you need to. Small is much better than large when it comes to avoiding heart attacks.
Jeff’s Alaska Calendar:
Alaska Botanical Garden: It doesn’t shut down for the winter. There are always classes and workshops and tai chi and so much more. Join.
Houseplants: Start paying attention to yours. Look for spider mites and white flies: Azamax and neem products are the solution.
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