By Barb Wilson, HHS Vice President
To The Haldimand Press
Winter is a great time to clean up and prep your garden, ensuring you get the most out of your plants in the spring. Here are a few garden clean up tips to keep in mind:
- Cover saplings and frost-sensitive plants in burlap or a similar material (no plastic).
- Clean up your tools and storage areas.
- Most importantly, sharpen your shears, because the dead of winter is ideal for pruning – except for plants that bloom and fruit from old wood (like forsythia, for example). Almost every plant benefits from pruning in wintertime when they are dormant, as they tend to heal quicker and secrete less sap. It also prevents damage (especially to large trees) in the event of heavy snow or severe winds.
Save the date! Planning has started for our sixth annual Seedy Saturday event, which will take place Saturday, April 28, 2023 at the Cayuga Memorial Arena. This will be the place to get gardening inspiration with three speakers – Darren Heimbecker, Sean James, and Kevin Kavanagh – and a variety of vendors. It is a family event with something for everyone. There will be a “Seed Swap” table offering seeds that have been lovingly saved and packaged. Please save your seeds to place on the table and they will find new homes in the spring.
Please enjoy the following seasonal poem, and Happy Holidays from Haldimand Horticultural Society.
A Christmas Garden
There’s a special winter garden
And it blossoms each December.
It’s planted with the seed
Of every Christmas we remember.
There’s mistletoe for laughter,
There’s holly for good cheer,
There’s evergreen to symbolize
The hope of the new year.
There’s poinsettia for beauty,
And for sweetness there’s the bay.
May the harvest of all these and more
Be yours on Christmas Day.
