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William McClenathan

 

 Episode 71
November 10, 2007

 

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Judy Alleruzzo


Can you feel that?  It is the holidays creeping up on us.  The weather has been a great distraction, but we will soon be in the rain and cold again.  The garden has been neglected since we have been enjoying the nice weather and now I find that we are rushing to get everything in shape for the coming cold weather.  It is also time to start thinking about the holidays.  This week we get you ready for both the change of seasons and the festivities ahead.

This week we featured...

Drake's Holiday Wreath

The holidays are upon us and that means we need to get started on prepping our homes.  Lynn Snodgrass at Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223) showed us how to make a wreath and then how to decorate it with other stuff from our garden to personalize it.  By using beautyberry, ornamental grasses, laurel and other decorative plants she was able to change the appearance and tie it into the up coming Thanksgiving holiday and then, by changing a couple of things, make it ready for the Christmas holiday.  If you would like some ideas on creating your own masterpiece check out the wreath making classes coming up next weekend during the ‘Holiday Happenings’ at Drakes.  During the 17th and 18th you will be able to learn how to decorate your tree, make and decorate a centerpiece, make a bow and, for the kids, dress up some cookies during a cookie decorating class.  Give them a call to sign up and for class times.

Winter Containers

Nothing makes a better impression on your holiday guests than a beautiful entryway to your home!  Deby Barnhart from Cornell Farm (503-292-9895) designs some of the best decorative pots and containers in the state.  Deby uses some great combinations of plants in her designs and some even include bulbs to carry the color into spring.  We also talked to her about different structure plants in her containers.  A lot of people over look some of the flowering shrubs and conifers that you can use in your plantings.  She really liked some of the winter camellias that are just coming into bloom.  If you would like more ideas, check out Cornell Farm or your local independent garden center.

Winter Berry Plants

The leaves are falling off your garden trees and shrubs, and you are thinking that there isn’t much of interest in the garden, right?  Well we found some great plants with winter berries at Larsen Farm Nursery (503-638-8600) that serve two functions, they help feed our local wildlife and they look great in your garden.  Ryan from Larsen Farm showed us a huge variety of plants that you can find at your local garden center. Some of the plants we saw included the Porcelain Vine ‘Elegans’, Snowberry ‘Scarlet Pearl’, Pyracantha ‘Victory’ and ‘Yukon Belle’, Arbutus also called Strawberry Tree, Beautyberry ‘Profusion’, Holly ‘Ebony Magic’ and Holly Veriegata.   If you are looking for more winter interest in your garden or a plant that will help feed the local wildlife then check out the selection of winter berry plants at Larsen Farm. 

Winter Tree Care

The wind, rain and possible snow of the coming winter can mean trouble for your large landscape trees.  How can you tell is your trees are healthy enough for all that mother natural has to offer?  We sought out our favorite ‘Certified Arborist’ Terrill Collier from Collier Arbor Care (503-72ARBOR) and asked him for some signs we can look for.  Terrill took us to a park in Vancouver Washington to show us a multiple trunked tree that had lost one of its trunks due to rot and decay at its base.  That is just one of the 8 signs that you should look for in a dangerous tree.  Other signs included weakly attached branches, cracks in the branches of the trunk, pealing bark and signs of decay or rot.  These are the most obvious of signs, but if you are unsure of the safety of your trees you can contact Collier Arbor care or a certified arborist.  Collier’s even has a brochure that can tell you what else to look for.  Terrill emphasizes that you insist on a certified arborist.  They are trained to look for the damaged spots and are trained (insured and bonded) to remove the weak tree safely.  

Tracy’s Pruning Tips #2

We were joined once again by Tracy DiSabato-Aust, to chat a little bit more on pruning techniques and what pruning you should do for the coming winter.  Tracy who is known as the ‘Queen of Deadheading’ has written a couple of great Timber Press (1-800-327-5680, ) books on perennial gardening, pruning and design.  This week we talked about the different tools you will need to prune correctly.  Then we talked about how and when to prune.  First, remove all your diseased garden plants.  Some of your favorite plants will start showing signs of powdery mildew or gray mold.  Cut down those plants and get rid of the diseased foliage.  Then you can be selective about your pruning.  Enjoy some of the seed heads and flower stalks of your favorite plants.  Grasses are great at providing winter interest too.
 

 
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