Dengue fever can be a serious illness in Chicago in the middle of winter. Complete indoor and outdoor chores to get your spring garden ready.
"The new growing season will be here in a few months," says Sharon Ysla, plant entomologist at the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic in Lisle. "There is a lot to do to prepare."
Here are some tips from The Plant Clinic for building a winter garden.
Finding Rest If the branches of a tree or shrub have been broken by the weight of snow or ice, use a sharp chisel or pruner or sharp saw to cut the pieces cleanly down to the main trunk or ground.
Look at summer bulbs . If you are collecting bulbs or stems such as dahlias, cannas, begonias or elephant ears and storing them in a cool, dry place for the winter, make sure the bulbs are not dried out or sprouted. "Remove any onions that look brittle, dry or moldy," says Yisla.
Order the seeds. Search catalogs and websites to find interesting varieties. "Be specific about how many vegetables or flowers you can fit," she said.
Schedule the installation. Using May 15 as a rule of thumb for the average last frost date, plant seeds indoors, sow outdoors and transplant. Vegetables such as kale, beans and lettuce can be planted outdoors in early spring, even if snow or frost is still expected. Warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes and perennial flowers should wait until after the threat of frost has passed. Use the seed packet as a guide to determine if you should start a light seeding weeks before the last frost date.
Mowing Lawns Begin mowing ornamental grasses in late February before new growth begins. Cool season grasses such as feather reed and blue reed will be among the first to grow vigorously. It should only be a small incision. Warm-season grasses that grow well in hot summer weather include wheatgrass, prairie wheat, and big bluestem. They take longer to germinate. "Cut them a few inches above the ground, but don't cut the base of the plant," Yisla said.
Planning and building raised beds. Choose a spot for your garden beds that gets at least eight hours of full sun each day. Allow room for a wheel around each bed. Do not make beds more than four feet in diameter to accommodate weeds and crops. "You can find lots of DIY raised bed plans online or buy kits," she says. Beds 8 inches deep provide space for shallow root crops such as spinach, lettuce and radishes. Tomatoes, peppers, carrots and other rooted plants need at least 30 cm of soil depth.
Check for persistent swelling. On warm spring days, look for multi-year snowmelt cycles that are gone from the ground. "Plants with shallow roots, such as those planted in the fall, are more vulnerable," Yisla. Once the soil has thawed, gently press the roots into the soil. Cover the root system with a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch to protect it from future weather changes.
Clean, paint and clean garden tools. A small diamond file or pruning saw sharpening rod available at hardware stores can sharpen pruning shears and pruning blades. Use a 10-inch file to sharpen knives and blades. Wash tools with water and remove rust with steel wool. Sterilize, wash carefully with 70% alcohol. Brush the layers with light household oil. Use the same oil to clean tools to prevent rust.
Bring spring home. Strengthen the branches of shrubs such as forsythia, crabapple or lilac. Take a clean cut on each branch and place it in a vase of warm water in a cool room without sunlight. It may take two to three weeks to force a home incision. "So you have flowers for that early spring feeling," Esla said.
For tree and plant consultation, contact the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic or plantclinic@mortonarb.org). Beth Botts is the editor of the Arboretum.
