Hort Shorts
- Marginally hardy or tender plants can be protected from freezing temperatures via commercial products like Wall O’ Waters. Homemade versions can work too. Wall O’ Waters are a series of connected, topless, plastic tubes that encircle a plant. Filled with water, they absorb heat during the day and release it at night to insulate the plant. They protect plants from weather as cold as 16 degrees F. If the water freezes, it produces heat that keeps the air temperature inside the wall above 32 degrees F. You can achieve a similar effect using a ring of milk jugs or soda bottles filled with water. Any spaces between the containers must be sealed. Duct tape or silicon glue will work. Some gardeners use Wall O’ Waters to get a jump on the spring vegetable season.
- The ‘Flame’ willow is a large, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub with eye-popping winter appeal. The stems are bright yellow-orange. It may grow as large as 20 feet tall, but can be pruned to size each year. It grows best in full sun in average to wet soil.