Hello everyone! It’s your friendly gardener on Main Street, coming at you with another wild and wacky gardening thought. Just for a minute, let us role play, shall we? Let’s say you are in your tenth day of quarantine this winter. You have stayed inside and watched everything Netflix has to offer, and you are either going to start swinging the frying pan at the nearest household member, or you’ll just lay down and cry. Perhaps the short, overcast days have you down and you need something to perk up your wintry rest. Well, I have a solution for you: weed. You might think me crazy, but why not? 

If this winter trends toward the mild, or if we “thaw” a stretch of mild weather heading our way  (see what I did there?), weeding is a golden opportunity you might not want to miss. Buried beneath the snow and ice, those pesky winter annual weeds are just waiting for spring to arrive so they can spread like wildfire throughout the flower bed. Why not get a jump on the spring season and do a bit of weed removal now? Of course, if the ground is frozen, or otherwise unyielding to your strenuous efforts, then obviously you will need to catch them later.

Weeding is not the only “out of season” thing you can do in your garden during a winter thaw. Late fall through very early spring is a golden time to spread compost in the garden. Plants have died back and the ground is cleared, making spreading humic joy an easier task. Wellfield staff often utilize that time frame to spread compost and mulch on a large scale.

Whatever your situation, there may be some good opportunities heading your way to get a head start on those weeds and make your neighbors jealous this spring when they are frantically pulling weeds while you are catching up on your streaming.

Josh Steffen, Horticulture and Facilities Manager

Missed any of Josh’s latest posts? Here are some recent ones:

• 
  The Importance of Dormancy in GardeningJanuary 28, 2023
  During these cold months, gardening activities are rather limited and this time of year can be considered to be an off season for gardeners everywhere. But even though it seems like there is not a lot happening, plants are busy maintaining dormancy. This phase is essential for plants to survive and maintain nutrients.
• 
  Roll Out the Red Carpet for SquirrelsJanuary 20, 2023
  National Squirrel Appreciation Day is one of our favorites every year. While our Horticulture staff faces challenges from squirrels, they appreciate them nonetheless! Today, Amy takes a look at ways to welcome and protect squirrels in your yard.
• 
  Growing CompanionsJanuary 14, 2023
  It’s a gardener’s favorite time of year – or at least one of them – planning for planting time! Today, Ariana looks at one way to help your plants succeed: companion planting.
• 
  The Spotted LanternflyJanuary 7, 2023
  The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species which, while not yet seen in our area, has been seen in Indiana and Michigan, so it’s just a matter of time. Today, Kyle looks at this pest and shows us what to look for, and what we can do when we “spot” them in our area.
• 
  Common Species of Christmas TreesDecember 25, 2022
  Merry Christmas! When it comes to Christmas trees, is your family real or fake? (Hint: there is no right or wrong answer) Today, Kyle looks at different species of trees used as Christmas trees and the pros and cons of each.

Want to be notified whenever we post? We promise we won’t bug you too much, and we won’t sell your info, either.