Hort Shorts
- River birch is especially handsome in winter, when its peeling bark shows to best advantage. Depending on variety, the bark may be white, brown, cinnamon or orange in color. Though it occurs naturally in moist environments, river birch is also adaptable to drier soils.
- The dark-green, leathery leaves and milky-white berries of mistletoe make it a quintessential holiday decoration. Mistletoe depends on water and nutrients in live trees to survive, but it is considered semi-parasitic because it is also capable of making its own food through photosynthesis. Healthy trees in the landscape are usually able to share their resources with mistletoe with little ill effect.
- The yellow flowers of Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis) arrive in winter, providing color, interesting fringelike petals and intoxicating perfume. They perform best in full sun to part shade in well-drained, evenly moist, slightly acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Chinese witch hazel is less hardy than hybrids but is still suitable for most of North Carolina. Temperatures colder than -10 degrees F. will damage flower buds.
- Winter is a perfect time to plant dormant shrubs and trees. In winter and early spring, the plant’s energy is focused on healthy root development rather than top growth.
- Remove spent flowers from pansies to encourage new bloom. Remove and discard any yellowed or diseased leaves.
- A glut of garden catalogs this time of year is a joy to many spring- and summer-starved gardeners. But be sure to keep your salivary glands in check as you ogle the goods. Compare prices among catalogs. If a plant is a lot cheaper in one, check the size (usually given in pot size or age of plant). You may discover that different nurseries are offering different size plants. You might also review the customer ratings at Garden Watchdog: http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd.