Take one look at the seasonal calendar provided by Walter Reeves, known as the Georgia Gardener, and you may feel a little behind when it comes to landscaping in Woodstock. If you follow his week-by-week tips to prepare for the spring, you should already have the oil changed in your lawnmower and the blade sharpened. But don’t worry – there is plenty of time to prepare and catch up with the seasonal calendar at walterreeves.com. Here are a few pointers we thought were worth mentioning.
Safety and Salt
While we do live in the south, Woodstock is not a stranger to snow and ice. On rare occasions, we get enough of a dusting that some will sprinkle salt on sidewalks and driveways to melt the snow. If you use salt for this purpose, make sure that you use potassium chloride or calcium chloride (check with your local hardware store to see if they have any in stock) instead of sodium chloride (traditional ice melting rock salt). The rock salt that is typically used to melt ice and snow on sidewalks may actually burn nearby plant roots.
Fruity Business
Living in Georgia and in North Georgia in particular, we are blessed to be near the many apple orchards. If you happen to have your own apple tree, pear tree, or grapevine, the end of January is the perfect time to prune them in preparation for a bountiful growing season and harvest.
Planting and Planning
If you grow flowers, plants, or vegetables, now is the time to plan what you want to grow. Make sure you order your catalogs or update your address if you have moved in order to still get catalogs. Remember that there are often new hybrid varieties that come out for different plants and vegetables. Additionally, think about companies that you may be using for weed or pest control or spring landscaping jobs. Plan ahead for your spring applications and appointments.
We hope that as the spring thaw comes you are able to enjoy the great outdoors to the fullest. Keep up with us on Facebook for landscaping ideas and upcoming activities to help get you out of the house if you’re suffering with cabin fever!