in the Garden a winter s daY

A winter’s day

by lIsa Cullen

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray... California dreaming on such a winter’s day” —“California Dreamin’” by John and Michelle Phillips

It may seem there’s no huge difference from one Santa Barbara season to the next . We always have the most glorious weather during the holidays, particularly on New Year’s Day . Which I’m sure is part of some divine plan so we can show off to all of our friends and family in colder climes . But, for planting and garden planning purposes, there are some important things we can do in winter to ensure a sensational spring .

Garden Planning

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” —Abraham Lincoln

Before you go charging around to every nursery in town, spend some time envisioning what it is you want to achieve . Make a file, a Pinterest board, or whatever suits you . There’s no need for a drawing, just gather some images of the look you’re going for . I suggest planting an edible garden as part of the vision . With everyone spending more time at home there’s been a big resurgence in homegrown food . Make lists of what fruits and vegetables you and your family like to eat as a starting point . Almost every garden has room for a few fruit trees and a small vegetable plot . Even if you’re going to have someone else do the work, have photos ready of what it is you like . It’s your garden, after all, and should be to your taste and aesthetic . Grab this opportunity and tap into your creative side .

Preparation

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success” —Alexander Graham Bell

I doubt Alexander Graham Bell’s famous words referred to planting a garden, but it’s certainly true, nonetheless . No matter what type of garden you’ll be planting, good drainage is key . Mediterranean and California Native so popular in our area require good drainage . Lavenders, rosemary, rockrose, ceanothus, and even succulents can fail to thrive if drainage is poor . Heavy compaction as well as heavy soil are drainage challenges . Fix drainage and amend the soil . Successful gardeners “feed the soil not the plant .” Worm castings, composted chicken manure, fish, and kelp all add life to the soil and always cover the soil with mulch .

Planting

Winter is bareroot season! Yay! That means big savings and greater selection . Bareroot plants are dormant (not actively growing) and look like bare sticks . Roses, fruit trees, and lots of different fruits and vegetables can be found this time of year in bareroot form, which amounts to big savings to you . Apricots, plums, persimmons, nut trees, asian pears, figs, mulberries, and more can be purchased in bareroot form . Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and trees of all kinds should all be planted now . In your vegetable garden it’s not too late to plant all your favorite cool-weather crops, like kale and broccoli . Fortunately for Santa Barbarans, we can plant just about anything this time of year . Of course, if we get a ton of rain, hold off until the soil dries out .

Rain: will it or won’t it

Typically, our rainy season is winter/spring and though the weather gurus are calling for increased drought conditions, I always hope they’re wrong . All the desalinated water can’t replace rainwater . Did you ever wonder why plants look better after a rain? It’s because rainwater contains nitrogen and oxygen that isn’t present in tap water . And because rain is slightly acidic, it helps release micronutrients essential to plant health . Plus, tap water contains chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals that kill the microorganisms in your soil and over time can cause toxicity . The end result of long-term drought is plant stress no matter how much you water . I highly recommend some type of filtration system for your water system that removes harmful chemicals .

Gardens are for living

There’s scientific proof that all aspects of gardening, from the planning to the physical labor to the fact of being surrounded by greenery and beauty, all relieve stress and promote calm and well-being . Life can be challenging, gardening shouldn’t be . I want you to be successful in your garden endeavors . Feel free to email me your questions and concerns at lisacullen@ montecitolandscape .com .

Lisa Cullen, landscape designer and organic gardener, owns Montecito Landscape with her husband, Chris. She can be reached at 805.969.3984 or www.montecitolandscape.com Tuesday–Sunday