Winter Gardening Tips for Richmond, VA
Don’t let the sprouting daffodils and little bouts of warm weather fool you. It’s likely Richmond’s winter weather isn’t finished just yet. If you’re looking for something to do in the yard during these warm days, think about doing pruning, mulching, or getting compost ready for Spring. If you have the luxury of a greenhouse, early March is a good rule of thumb for starting spring seeds in our climate.
What Plants Are Dormant in the Winter
In Virginia, many trees and shrubs stop growing, lose their leaves, seal themselves as best as possible, and wait out the winter season, like a bear in hibernation. If you’re thinking about doing some pruning, be sure to consult this pruning calendar from Virginia Tech
, as many deciduous trees do better with fall pruning. During this time, some plants are vulnerable to the cold, which is why some smaller plants or more recently planted items might benefit from being encased in pine bundles, micro-foam, or polyethylene fabric.
Do Warm Winters Benefit Plants in Virginia?
Drastic changes in temperature is actually more damaging to plants than the cold by itself. We’ve been seeing temperatures hit the spectrum within a single week. One way to help protect plants in the winter is by putting down mulch. Be sure not to pile up mulch on exposed roots and be sure to use the correct mulch for the type of plants in your yard.
Should I Knock the Snow off My Box Bushes and Other Shrubs?
You’ll hear some debate about this issue. Some feel you should leave plants alone, as you may do more damage by knocking off the snow. Others argue you should get out as soon as possible and knock light, powdery snow off bushes. Both schools of thought agree, if the snow melts and ice starts adhere to leaves and branches, leave them alone.
In general, plants like box bushes are fairly resilient to what mother nature can throw at them. If you see a few branches bent down under the weight of snow, odds are that the branch will bounce right back when the snow melts.
Landscaping Support in Richmond, Virginia
If you’re starting to feel a bit of cabin fever, don’t worry, spring is right around the corner. If you’d like more concrete advice about when to plant, where to trim, or what to plant, we’d be happy to provide you with information. Contact us if you’d like help building the backyard of your dreams this year.
