C4 Wednesday, September 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
GARDEN
“It is just like cutting your hair. It is good for the health of the plant,” From Page C3 Doyle said. Shrub roses should be pruned down to about six to eight inches above the Doyle said placing them in a sunny window in the house is a good idea for soil, while species of hydrangea like them, though they should be treat- Annabelle can be cut right down to ed with an insecticide before going the ground. “Mow them down,” Doyle said. indoors. Regular hydrangea plants should be After the annuals in window boxes and pots have died, Doyle said it is a pruned down to a leaflet and the dead good idea to get those planters ready for flowers should be removed, so new the next season. Remove any plants and buds will grow in the spring. The same the top two inches of soil. is true for hydrangea trees. “So you can refill that with fresh soil Lilacs are a little more difficult, in the spring,” Doyle said. There are usually deals to be found when shopping for plants in the fall. Many garden centers and stores are clearancing out their stock. “Take advantage of your local garden center sales,” Doyle said. When shopping though, one needs to keep a close eye on the plant’s zone. The zone specifies the weather conditions a plant can take. The region around Willmar is in zone 3 to 4, which means the plants will survive in winter temperatures of 20 to 30 below zero.
because the flowers only form on old wood. Gardeners need to be careful not to prune back the areas where flowers will form next spring. Evergreen bushes stop growing in July and pruning back the new growth keeps those shrubs and bushes in a uniformed shape, Doyle said. The new growth is usually a lighter green than the rest of the plant. Perennial plants can also be cut back down to the soil, with no risk to the plant’s future production. “They start completely over every year,” Doyle said.
Trees
Trees have their own needs as they head into their annual down time. Depending on the weather, they could need some assistance to go into hibernation as healthy as possible. “Trees should have a good drink before they go to sleep,” Doyle said.
GARDEN: Page C5
Shelby Lindrud / Tribune
Pruning
Fall annuals like garden mums and grasses will survive into November, giving homes some garden color in the fall months.
As the temperatures cool, it is the perfect time to think about pruning back many plants and flowers. “It is your prime time to do your pruning,” Doyle said. Depending on the plant there are different needs when it comes to pruning, but Doyle said people can be a little hesitant to do it, afraid it will hurt the plant. The exact opposite is true though.
Shelby Lindrud / Tribune
Angela Doyle of Stacy's Nursery shows off a fall-themed planter.
Fall Clearance Sale Starts Sunday, September 17th! Come check out our wide selection of trees, shrubs and perennials. Shelby Lindrud / Tribune
Mums, grasses and other ground covers are a good choice when planting for some fall color.
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