The weather is still cold, and you may be impatient to wait for your Summer flowers. As flowers are generally associated more with Spring and Summer months, many avid gardeners don’t consider the opportunities available in colder conditions. This is definitely a shame as there are plenty of colder climate planting options to keep your garden as vibrant as ever!
Take this as an opportunity to explore introducing new flower types and fill your garden with bright blooms. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this is the perfect time to prepare your garden for Spring and Summer flowers.
Maintaining your garden
A good clean up will do wonders for your garden and keep it in good shape throughout the cooler months. Perennial flowers can be kept for the next season, while it’s better to completely remove any spent annuals which only survive one season, then just take up room and attract unwanted pests.
Once you have culled the unwanted plants from your garden, you want to make it as difficult as possible for insects and any other pests to invade, so clean up leaves and debris around your remaining plants and remove any weeds you find.
To prevent the effects of frost, spread a layer of mulch a few inches thick around your plants to insulate the soil.
Determining when to cut back perennials that bloom in warmer weather can vary between species. Some benefit from being cut back and deadheaded (removing wilted flowers and foliage) at the beginning of the cold season. Others are best left untouched until the start of the next Spring. Daylilies, for example, should be pruned to avoid a buildup of dead foliage that may attract pests. On the other hand, chrysanthemums should be left intact during Winter. It just depends on what flowers you have in your garden.
Planting your Winter flowers
Before you add any new plants to your garden, add our Rootella T formulation to the planting holes to give your floral wonders the best chance of survival. Our Rootella products contain Mycorrhizal fungi which are the best friends a plant could ever have. Mycorrhizal fungi grow extremely long strands that attach to your plants’ roots and extend their reach, making it easier for them to find nutrients. Growing deep into the ground, this fungi also adds structure to the soil which helps to hold nutrients close to the roots and resists erosion. You can read more about this magical ingredient HERE.
There are many common ‘cold’ garden flowers to choose from to spruce up any home garden. Here are some favourites to consider: camellias, sometimes called the ‘Rose of Winter’, produce gorgeous flowers mainly of pink, white or red; hellebores thrive in shaded areas, creating lovely ground cover; violas are delicate-looking but hardy flowers that provide a splash of colour; polyanthus come in a variety of bright colours and can be planted in bunches to add some cheer.
For any gardeners looking to cultivate roses in time for Valentine’s Day, it’s best to get a start towards the end of Winter/start of Spring. Planting roses bare-rooted is best, along with our Rootella of course. This prevents them from going into shock as they are dormant and will only resume growth when conditions are suitable. Be careful not to overwater; just enough to ensure the soil remains moist should be fine.
There’s plenty that can be done to keep your garden lively over colder months and prepped for the Spring. And with our products, it’s easier than ever.
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