Garden: Rejuvenation for Plants & Pollinators

Words by Sue Burns

January brings a reflective stillness as we return to our regularly scheduled programming after the holidays.

We look to the year ahead, making plans for all aspects of our lives, including our gardens. The bare trees and sparse landscape may lead us to think all is quiet, but there’s a lot going on out there. These shorter days are actually a period of rejuvenation for plants and pollinators as spring approaches, and we can encourage this process. For timely tips on the winter garden, Tulare-Kings Counties Master Gardeners Patty Bietz and Laura Manser were happy to share their expertise.

Pollinators

During the cold months, Patty recommends taking good care of pollinators and beneficial insects, so come spring, they'll be around to help take care of pests like aphids. (It’s easier than you think.) If the thought of cleaning up flowering weeds, withered annuals, and dead leaves makes you groan, you’re in luck! Since these things actually serve as protection, homes, and food sources for overwintering pollinators and insects, it’s best to leave them alone. Native bees are nesting underground or burrow in bamboo stakes or wood. Lady beetles are hidden in those piles of leaves. Butterflies overwinter in the foliage of plants. (Creating little mud puddles when you irrigate will provide a source of water for them.) Cool-weather plants that bloom from spring to winter, like salvia and snapdragons, bring color that attracts pollinators. Also, consider putting up a bee box in the spring to provide them with a place to lay eggs that will hatch the following year.

Native birds also rely on a little TLC from us during this time. Bird feeders are essential, as are sources of water for drinking and bathing (no heating necessary). Use a platform or hanging feeder positioned away from walls or any places that would allow cats access to our feathered friends. Be sure to also check trees and plants for nests before trimming.

Bare Root Roses

January and February are important months for roses. It’s time to select new bare root roses (dormant roses that are packaged with the roots surrounded by moist wood shavings) to add to your collection, and time to give your existing plants a good pruning for optimal growth through the year. Bare root roses can be planted throughout the winter in Tulare County. When shopping for them, select the strongest, most vigorous plants. Look for those graded and marked “No. 1” (the best quality), with three strong canes that are plump and green. Buds should be brightly colored and plump; the roots should be light in color and evenly spaced around the plant.

Before planting, unwrap the roots and soak them in water for up to 24 hours to help ensure an adequate moisture reserve that will facilitate growth. Choose a location with good air circulation that receives a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily. Morning sunlight is optimal to help the foliage dry, preventing powdery mildew disease.

There are several types of modern and heirloom roses, and each can have specific needs for how to prune. Take a look at Master Gardener “Rose Guru” Laura's top tips for winter pruning.

• Start with clean, sharp pruning shears.

• Prune so that the rose plant is opened up to a V-shape.

• Remove any small, twiggy growth, dead or diseased canes, and canes that are crossing each other.

• Clear the mulch away from the base of roses (if you didn’t do that in the fall).

• Choose 3-6 strong healthy canes on the outside of each plant bigger in diameter than a pencil (remove canes that are smaller).

• Prune about 2/3 of each of the canes, making a 45 degree angle cut ¼” above an outward-facing bud.

• Remove all the leaves from the pruned canes and any pruning debris under the base of the plant.

• Optional: Apply insecticidal soaps or horticultural oil to smother overwintering scales and (non-beneficial) insect eggs, but do not fertilize the roses at this time.