Lately our weather has been more like Spring than Winter...but it is not Spring...so garden accordingly.
Big box stores are tempting with aisle upon aisle of blooming plants, but check the plants temperature requirements to make sure that they will survive when our weather and temperatures return to normal.
Even under normal conditions, January is a busy month for the gardeners here in Northern California. One of the
most important chores to be completed this month is pruning dormant
trees and shrubs.
Consult a gardening book, or ask a gardening professional to learn
about various pruning techniques. Proper pruning is especially
important for fruit trees. All fruit trees are not pruned in the same
manner. Improper pruning could result in the loss of next year’s
crop or even worse, the death of the tree.
While
pruning dormant trees and shrubs, take a few minutes to clip some
extra branches that will, with a bit of coaxing, bring a breath of
spring indoors. Forcing branches of spring blooming trees and shrubs
to bloom early is easy.
Forcing
is a technique that was familiar even to Victorian gardeners. Modern
day florists often rely on forced blooms to provide color in spring
floral arrangements.
Bringing
on an early bloom is particularly easy for us here in Northern
California where we usually have had many weeks of cold weather. The best
time for forcing branches is after a period of six weeks when
temperatures have repeatedly dipped below 42 degrees. This period of
cold weather allows us to fool the cut branches into believing that
winter has passed and spring has arrived. Because of this necessary
winter chill, gardeners in warmer climates do not have much chance to
force branches for indoor color.
To
successfully force blooming and bring spring indoors in the middle of
winter one must first determine which woody trees and shrubs they can
fool. Only those plants that formed their flower buds last fall are
candidates for forcing. Summer blooming shrubs and trees cannot be
forced into bloom. Bridal wreath spirea, cherry, crab apple, dogwood,
flowering quince, forsythia, mock orange, peach and flowering plum
are all good choices.
Finding
the branch that will give the most blooms is the key to success.
When cutting forsythia or flowering quince keep in mind that all buds
on those plants are flowering buds. Their leaves come out after the
blooms. For all other trees and shrubs, look for a branch with an
abundance of short fat buds. Those are flower buds. Leaf buds are
more elongated.
Gather
the necessary tools. A pair of sharp pruning shears, a small hammer
and a bucket of warm water are all that are required. Carry the
hammer and bucket as well as the pruning shears into the garden so
that the branches can be condition as soon as they are cut.
Once
a branch has been chosen, make the pruning cut just above a bud.
Hammer the cut end of the branch until it is slightly mashed and
splintered. Plunge the cut and battered end into the bucket of warm
water. This process allows the branch to begin to take up water
immediately. This is an important step in the forcing process. When
enough branches have been cut and conditioned bring them indoors for
an additional treatment. Now it is time to submerge the entire branch
in room temperature water. If the branches are too long for the
kitchen or laundry room sink, use the bathtub for soaking them.
Should there be only one bathtub in the house be sure to forewarn the
family that the tub will be off limits for twenty-four hours while
the branches are being conditioned. This long term soaking serves a
twofold purpose. First, it allows the branches to soak up additional
water. Secondly, the water softens the bud casing making it easier
for the flowers to emerge.
The
long soak is not however the end of the project. The buds must
further be convinced that spring is on the way. Place the branches in
a bucket of tepid water and set them aside in a cool area out of
direct sunlight. This simulates the cloudy conditions of early
spring. When the buds finally begin to show a bit of color, bring
them out for full display. Do not place a bouquet of forced blooms in
bright sunlight or near a fireplace, wood stove or furnace vent.
While it might seem like a long and involved process, it is worth the
effort to bring a bit of early spring indoors when winter insists
upon dragging on and on and on!
Happy
gardening....Spring is on the way!
Have questions?...please ask... Wake Up and GO Green is here to help meet your gardening challenges.
You can also find me on Facebook as BlessMyBloomers
http://www.facebook.com/BlessMyBloomers
