“Serving Orchard Ridge for Over 50 Years”

     HOLIDAY YARD WORK

 Thanksgiving is upon us and you may need an outlet to burn a few
calories, avoid the in-laws, or keep the kids busy. Here are a few
suggestions of yard-work that can be done over the Turkey-day holiday:
 
Rose bushes caged in chicken wire and mounded with soil earlier in the season can be mulched with leaves now that the soil is probably frozen.
 
Mulch layers can be applied to perennial vegetables and flowers as soon as the top 1- 2 inches of the ground are frozen. Apply at least 2 - 4 inches of mulch to help moderate temperature fluctuations that can heave plant crowns out of the ground as it freezes and thaws during late winter and early spring.
 
Wrap the trunks of young and tender trees to prevent sunscald. Paper tree wrap can prevent the rapid temperature changes in the bark that cause frost cracking and sunscald. It does not provide protection from the chewing of mice, voles, rabbits and other pests. For this use plastic or wire applied at least 1 - 2 feet higher up the trunk than the expected snow level. Clear away weeds, tall grass and leaves from the trunk area to reduce nesting sites for these pests, too.
 
Clean up the mower and garden tools before storing them for the winter. Run gasoline powered engines until empty. Drain and change the oil, clean the air filter, and get off all dried grass and dirt. Sharpen lawn mower blades now so they are ready for next year's first mowing.
 
Water all needle and broadleaf evergreens one last time before the ground freezes since winter wind and sun will continue to demand water from these plants through their leaves all winter. Excess water loss can lead to "winter burn" or death.
 
Mark or make a mental note of lawn areas infested with crabgrass this year so you can spot treat with a pre-emergent herbicide next spring. Crabgrass is easy to see now since it turns purple and then brown when killed by frost.
 
Prune everbearing raspberries if you did not do so after this fall's
harvest. If you cut or mow all canes to the ground now, there will be no spring harvest but a much larger fall harvest next year. It also reduces insect and disease problems.
 
For more information on yard and garden work this time of year, call the Dane County UW-Extension Office at (608) 224-3721 or e-mail homehort@co.dane.wi.us for suggestions.

Revised:  January 1, 2003