January 2017
PICKAWAY TO GARDEN
Hibernation
By Paul J. Hang
Not hyper-nation,
that’s coming. Hibernation is when an animal goes into a state of dormancy, slower
metabolism, living off reserves of body fat. Although that sounds like me in
winter, humans do not hibernate according to that scientific definition. It
also commonly means less active, staying at home and socializing less and by
that definition, in winter, I certainly qualify. So does the sun. It is staying
at its southern home, coming out less and even then occasionally, briefly and shyly
peeking from behind its cloudy curtains.
Plants don’t
hibernate the way some mammals do. In winter most perennials go dormant, live
off of stored reserves, and have slower growth, if any. So, by the more general
definition, we could say they hibernate. Iris, daylilies and others have stored
up reserves in root, corm and bulb. They sleep snuggled underground protected
from harsh winter winds.
Trees and
shrubs live more dangerously, out in the open, starkly naked, exposed to all
that winter can throw at them. They have stored reserves in their roots. They
also have their buds bundled up ready for the spring when they will reveal
flower or leaf. Dogwood, buckeye, hickory all have prominent buds. Observe
them. Cut one open and see the embryonic leaves inside. It’s difficult but
awesome to realize that those buds were begun last spring and were pretty much
complete by mid-summer. The buds are clothed in scales that act as winter
parkas. They are also infused with glycol, an anti-freeze, like some of us
during this holiday season.
We are all,
plants and animals, using our adaptations to survive the winter and be ready
for renewed life come the warming. By next month our celebrated Pennsylvania
hibernator will be rudely awakened by the local Chamber of Commerce to be
exploited for weather predictions and tourists. No self -respecting groundhog
would be waking up in February. Like- wise we needn’t waken from our winter
slumber for a couple more months. Dream and day dream about the coming spring
and the fabulous garden that we will surely have.
January can
be a time for planning, thinking about the year ahead. Don’t forget to check
with OSU Extension websites such as ohioline.osu.edu when researching your
ideas for the growing season. January is also when we hear about people’s
resolutions and are exhorted to come up with our own. How about planning to be
a Master Gardener Volunteer? MGV’s complete a 50 hour training program and
volunteer to spread science based gardening practices. We will be having an
open house information session on January 26th at 6:30pm at the
Pickaway County Library, N. Court Street.
The training
program will begin March 23 and runs all day on Thursdays until early May and provides
intensive training in horticulture to interested residents who then volunteer
their time assisting with educational programs and activities through the local
Ohio State University Extension county office. You are not required to have
gardening skills or knowledge: a passion for learning about gardening and
sharing this knowledge with others is a must!
Things to do in the garden:
The list of
things to do in the garden has gotten shorter. Things we can do about gardening
can fill your idle hours, if you have any, are: Review last year's garden; draw
a map while you can still remember what grew where.
Check your
supply of old seeds. Are they expired? Do you want to reorder that variety?
Read your new seed catalogs and begin to plan next year's garden. It's not
nearly as much work. Order seeds and plants of new varieties that you want now.
They usually sell out quickly.
Believe it or
not, by the end of the month, you can begin to grow members of the Allium
family (Onions, Leeks, Garlic and Shallots) from seed indoors. You can get
ready by getting your seed starting supplies together. Make sure you provide
plenty of light.
Cut back on
watering your houseplants and don’t fertilize until March or April when growth
begins as the amount of light lengthens. When your poinsettias are looking
ragged throw them on the compost heap. The same goes for paper whites. In my
opinion it is not worth trying to get them to bloom again for the next
holidays. If you like a challenge go ahead, but be prepared for disappointment.
Amaryllis and Christmas cactus are exceptions and can be kept for re-blooming.
Check the internet for instructions.
Plan your
gardens and plantings. One of my favorite guides for this is The Ohio
Gardening Guide by Jerry Minnich. Need some more seed catalogs? Go to gardeningplaces.com.
Establish a
new bed by placing black plastic or several layers of newspaper, cardboard or
even old carpet down over the area you’ve chosen for the new bed. Weight it
down so the wind doesn’t disturb it. By late spring the vegetation under it
should be dead and the space ready for planting.
Learn to
sharpen your tools, trowels, pruners, spades and if you are really adventurous,
your mower blades. Oil them and use linseed oil on the wooden handles. It's
always a good idea to consult the experts. Go on line and google it.
Getting rid
of a live Christmas tree? Don’t. Use it to serve as a wind break for
evergreens, cut the branches off and use them as mulch for perennials, put them
near your bird feeders as cover, decorate them with suit, fruit, seed cakes, as
a bird feeder, Chip them eventually for mulch. The needles can also be mulch
and will not make the soil too acidic. If you had a balled live tree plant it
ASAP.
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