First the positive: 1. Plants LOVE a good snow mulch 2. Cold weather weeds like bittercress aren't germinating 3. No frost heaving of perennials 4. Plenty of moisture in the soil come spring time 5. Potentially less bugs this coming spring- maybe even a reduction of really bad ones like Emerald Ash Borer Now for the negatives: 1. There's going to be a lot of broken limbs this spring. Snow plow damage, ice and snow accumulation, strong winds, etc. are doing a number on the woody shrubs, ornamental trees and evergreens this year. If you're going to take it on yourself, start with sharp pruners and saws, and make clean cuts in the correct location. Don't just remove the broken branch at the snap, consider the future growth pattern of the plant as well as proper location for the wounded bark to seal itself. 2. Animal damage. Those cute little creatures that you love to watch have been hungry this winter. Very, very hungry and as such have been helping themselves to plants that they don't usually eat. If you have a rabbit population, you'll find that some of your shrubs will be missing all their bark at the snow line. If you have deer, well...I'm sorry. The regular winter forage of animals (in a typical snow fall year) consists of dried grasses and small, tender buds and branches. This has all been under snow cover since early December, so they have been eating what they can reach- the bark and buds of your favorite shrubs and small trees. And in regards to the not so cute creatures? The voles, mice and other rodents have been busy tunneling under all that snow and creating havoc in their own special ways. 3. Winter burn. Evergreens in particular are susceptible to winter burn, as they continue to photosynthesis all winter. This may show up on the side of the plant exposed to wind or sun first, but often the whole tree is effected. When the ground freezes solid, or the frost line goes too deep, moisture is no longer available to replace that which is lost by the needles during transpiration. The needles will turn brown, or in the case of broadleaved evergreens like Rhododendrons, the terminal buds will abort. There are ways to prevent this, including treating newly planted evergreens with anti-desiccant before winter sets in, selecting varieties that aren't as susceptible, installing screens or wraps, and carefully plant placement. 4. Snow mold. Yuck! Your lawn looks terrible this spring- what happened to all that lush green grass you were looking forward to mowing? Snow mold most often occurs during winter conditions like this one- the first snow falls on unfrozen turf, and then the snow cover persists for three months or more. Sigh. 5. Cold blasted buds. Many of the plants we grow here are marginally hardy. Magnolia, redbud, dogwood, azalea, fruit trees such as cherry, peach and plum can all be nipped in the bud, so to say, by a long period of record low temperatures. Will it kill the trees? Probably not, but it will definitely damage the new buds. These plants all do well here, buffered by the lake effect we enjoy from Lake Michigan. We may not see flowers this year and possibly have lots of dead spots on the tips of the branches. New growth may come from latent buds, rather than the usual ends of the branches. Wait until new growth has started pushing before you do any pruning to remove the dead spots. Concerned about what your landscape is going to look like come spring? Give us a ring or email, we'll help talk you through it! Always remember that the future comes one day at a time. -Dean Acheson I don't know who Dean Acheson is. I suppose I could take a moment to google him, but honestly, I'm more committed to getting these thoughts down than doing that right now. I've been looking at this quote for almost a year. How do I know it's been that long? It's on the spine of the April 2013 real simple magazine, smack dab in the middle of the pile of plant catalogs, trade magazines, and other snippets of inspiration I've stock piled by my design computer. The light from my window highlights it nicely, and I think subconsciously I've been absorbing this message for all it's worth.
Most of you know that here at Arcadia Gardens, we aren't truly a full service landscape company: we've chosen not to offer lawn mowing or snow plowing, instead focusing our efforts on providing the very best design, installation and maintenance service we know how. We use our "down time", roughly 3 months from December 15-March 15, to grow our company and ourselves physically and mentally. We develop systems, review procedures, attend tradeshows, source new products, research trends, repair equipment, and take a long vacation together as a family. This year, Todd and I have focused on education and certification. He will be obtaining a State of Michigan Builder's License for the company, and I am preparing to become a Michigan Certified Landscape Designer. We will both sit for the Certified Green Industry Provider Landscape Contractor & Landscape Manager exams. This license and these certifications aren't required to be a landscape contractor or designer in the State of Michigan, but we feel that obtaining them is a valuable asset to both our company and our clients. Personally, I have been developing my portfolio as a designer. I will be serving as president of the Michigan Chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, recently published an interesting account of a local Frank Lloyd Wright remodel project, and shared my thoughts on working with a landscape designer on WSJM 1400 & 94.9 FM's Let's Talk Real Estate. One project at a time, one day at a time... we're working on making our future great! |
BIO:Anna and her husband Todd own Arcadia Gardens, LLC a Stevensville, MI based landscape design and build company. Her degree in Horticulture with a focus on landscape management from Michigan State University allows Anna to select plants specific to on-site conditions and with maintenance requirements that suit the client's needs. She is comfortable designing across a range of styles- from contemporary to classic- and makes a point to include the client's input throughout the design process. She is an active member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and is serving as 2014 President of the APLD-Michigan Chapter. Anna has recently contributed to media such as "The Designer" and Gardendesign.com and is qualified to speak on a variety of topics from landscape design and maintenance to addressing local garden clubs and organizations. Contact Us: |