Winter Garden Work

Winter Garden Work
By Tobias Theodore Arthur

Winter may be a fairly dormant time for most plants, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't get out and about in the garden. There are many ways you can take advantage of the season and get your garden ready for the New Year's growth.

Throughout the year pests and plagues pose a real threat to most species of tree. It's important to embark on programmes of repair and precaution to defend against whatever threats may present themselves in the coming months, and there's no better time to do so than winter.

Since the vast majority of trees will be in a dormant state, with the deciduous genera shedding their leaves en masse to facilitate their period of low-energy uptake. The first advantage this poses is a chance to prune. Once the foliage has been neatly cleared away it's easy to get a good look at the branch system, making sure everything is growing evenly and without issue. Having room to inspect the entire tree, even the top branches, is perfect for spotting signs of infection and injury on the tree. This makes winter the ideal time to accurately prune away at rogue branches to encourage wider growth in the spring, and completely remove any infected or dead shoots and branches.

On the rare occasions a tree or shrub needs to be replanted, winter is one of the best periods to get the task underway. A small benefit is the lighter weight of the tree, though for larger plants this is unnoticeable. More importantly, trees can better adapt to new soil and surroundings in the winter. The low energy requirements they sport over colder seasons mean any changes are adapted to gradually, rather than being perceived as a sudden shock to the system. Just remember to make extra effort loosening the soil. Though winter is a good time for planting, you won't want to leave the tree in frozen ground unable to fill in effectively.

Since there isn't much intensive work to be done over winter it's a good time to clear house for the spring. First gather up the various leaves littering the floor, they'll make a good addition to your compost heap. For those cultivating edibles and vegetable patches in the spring it's best to start preparing for the season ahead. Dig up your beds to expose soil and be rid of weeds, and gather up any dead or decaying plants left over from the previous year's harvest and add them to the compost heap as well.

Though intensive and time consuming, double digging might be worth it if you have the energy left after Christmas. It's rarely necessary, though the extra depth of soil cultivation is a good idea if you're starting a new bed, but if you're looking for a winter project prior to a replant then double digging may prove challenging enough to keep you occupied. Winter should keep the ground malleably moist without waterlogging, so digging should be productive and relatively painless.

Just because growth is at a minimum doesn't mean you shouldn't get outside and get involved in your garden. A lot of necessary garden work is made much easier by the cold weather, so it's worth taking advantage of the chill while you can.

When Tobias Arthur isn't writing about trees and the environment he's tending to his plants and shrubs. Now a collaborator of English Woodlands he's expanding his expertise further.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tobias_Theodore_Arthur
http://EzineArticles.com/?Winter-Garden-Work&id=7466131

How to Remove Tree Roots

How to Remove Tree Roots
By Tobias Theodore Arthur

For many people the roots are the least of their problems when entirely removing an establish tree or plant. Most focus on the visible eyesore provided in the form of a stump, and pull, dig, split and grind it out of the ground. Throughout the process the tree roots are usually severed, and left to their own devices they will soon rot away in the ground and out of sight, so most individuals have no reason to pay them much attention.

There are still a good few incentives to clear out the roots of a recently felled tree. If the tree grew particularly vigorous surface roots and had a wide canopy then you may find thick roots obstructing attempts to dig up ground for new trees. Though they'll decay of their own accord, many people prefer to be rid of them as early as possible, much like they do with stumps.

The simple way is often the most effective, and digging along the system from the centre, surfacing and cutting the roots as you reveal them, is a slow, laborious and very successful process. The best too for the job is a mattock, also used for planting and stump removal. Doubling as a lever for digging out soil and as a kind of axe you're unlikely to need much more equipment as you go.

Comparatively, winches represent a popular choice among those trying to remove larger, stronger root systems. Many elect to remove the trunk itself with a winch, an easier alternative to digging or splitting the trunk by hand. A tripod or car mounted winch is usually employed, though a tripod generally proves more effective. Unlike the other methods of trunk removal which leave roots in the ground, a powerful winch will be able to pull up a large proportion of the root system up with the trunk. If the canopy of the tree isn't overly wide then the existing root system may be removed altogether.

The issue with the above methods is they both involve digging up a good amount of turf. For those who want to speed up root removal without waiting for grass to regrow, more natural solutions are available. A stump removal technique carries over here. Uncover a small amount of the root system, drill holes in them and fill them with something to appeal to the pests who naturally feed off the tree, buttermilk attracts certain kinds of beetles, for instance. With luck they'll eat away at the root system, though success isn't guaranteed, and extreme caution and study must be employed when introducing new pests, in case they have a predilection for feeding on the other specimens close at hand.

Removing trees can often be a slow and difficult process, extended by any desire to remove root systems in addition to the trunk. By investing in the right tools and doing a little research however, it's easy enough to minimise the mess and damage done to your garden in the interim.

From fruit tree containers to climate change, Tobias Arthur writes about every aspect of gardening and the environment. Currently featured as a collaborator with English Woodlands he looks forward to expanding his audience and spreading his word.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tobias_Theodore_Arthur
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Remove-Tree-Roots&id=7467728