Winter Landscaping Advice from Dr. Moon, Horticulturist

We know winter isn't usually the time of year you think about controlling pests and diseases on your plants, or taking care of your landscaping in general, but we recommend you take this advice from Dr. Robert E Moon, Horitculturist, to give your landscaping the best chance of coming back to life this spring and summer.

Clean up leaves and debris to control pests.

Debris provides a perfect place for pests to overwinter. Dr. Moon also recommends you use caution when stacking firewood in your yard as it is another overwintering site for pests.

Use a good organic control.

Dr. Moon recommends using Neem Oil to treat all your trees, shrubs, ground cover and perennials. Spray thoroughly several days before an expected rain event and when temperatures are above freezing. Neem Oil is an all natural pesticide derived from the Neem Tree. It is very safe for humans and pets and is also safe to use on fruits and vegetables right up until day of harvest.

Don't forget to feed your plants!

Just because it's winter doesn't mean your plants don't need to be fed and watered. Water trees, shrubs, and lawns during dry periods. Dr. Moon recommends soaking the soil to a depth of six inches every 7-10 days this time of year. He also recommends you fertilize trees, shrubs, fruit trees, ground covers, and vines one time between January and the end of February.

Clean up your trees.

You'll start to notice that the brown leaves on your trees will start to fall and that's good! It's making room for new growth. If your trees suffered any damage this winter, it will show up on the outer branches and trunks as they endure the summer heat. For now, if you notice any broken branches, remove them back to the connecting branches.

Start seeding!

In February Dr. Moon recommends you begin seeding butterfly/hummingbird wildflowers in your garden, as well as flowers like coleus, marigolds, petunias, flowering purslane, and portulaca.

Prep your lawn and your equipment.

The end of winter is a great time to prep your lawn and equipment for the upcoming spring. Apply pre-emergent weed control to lawns, ground cover, and shrub beds for warm season weed control. Dr. Moon says preemergent weed control can be applied as late as the third week in March, but remember, the closer you apply to February 15, the better your weed control. He also recommends you take this time to prepare you lawn mower and other tools - make sure they're working before you really need them!