Winterizing, by Buddy Short

HAVING A GAMEPLAN IS IMPORTANT
 

THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD BE THE KEY TO WHATEVER GAME PLAN YOU SELECT……


1..HOW MANY PLANTS DO YOU HAVE?

 


2..ARE YOUR PLANTS IN THE GROUND OR IN POTS?
 

3..ARE THEY TROPICALS OR GARDEN VARIETY?
 

4..WHAT WERE YOUR WINTERIZING RESULTS LAST YEAR AND DO YOU PLAN TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?
 

I’LL START WITH THIS PREMISE…..
 

“I BELIEVE WE LOSE MORE PLANTS TO MOISTURE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA THAN WE EVER LOSE TO TEMPERATURE!”
 

HERE’S A GREAT LITTLE SAYING THAT ALL OF YOU SHOULD ADOPT FOR ALLTIMES BUT ESPECIALLY DURING OUR WINTER MONTHS…..
 

“LOTS OF LEAVES, LOTS OF WATER, FEW LEAVES

LITTLE WATER”
 

PRIOR TO OUR LAST NEWSLETTER I ALSO SENT OUT TWO ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ON THE WINTERIZING TOPIC……
 

HERE ARE A FEW “QUICK HITS” FROM THOSE ARTICLES.
 

1..SHOULD THE WEATHER CHANGE QUICKLY, YOU MUST BE PREPARED WITH A PLAN OF ACTION
 

2..REMEMBER, EVEN IF IT IS NOT FREEZING, A COLD NORTH WIND LITERALLY SUCKS THE MOISTURE OUT OF YOUR PLANTS. DEFLECT THAT WIND!
 

3..YOUR PLANTS WILL “HARDEN OFF” AS THE NIGHT TIME TEMPERATURES GET COLDER.
 

4..REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER DURING COLDER MONTHS AND IF YOU DO USE ANY MAKE SURE IT HAS PLENTY OF POTASSIUM AND LESS NITROGEN AS THIS WILL HELP TO HARDEN PLANTS.
 

5..IF YOUR PLANTS WILL STAY OUTSIDE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD FREEZE CLOTH…..LOWES, HOME DEPOT, CHASTANT BROTHERS, ETC.
 

6..IT IS BETTER TO KEEP PLANTS ON THE DRY SIDE DURING THE WINTER…..WHAT WAS THAT LITTLE SAYING?
 

REMEMBER “MORE LEAVES MORE WATER, FEW LEAVES LITTLE WATER”
 

6..IF YOU HAVE LIMITED SPACE TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAVORITES AND THOSE HARDEST TO REPLACE FIRST!!
 

7..PLACING PLANTS UNDER A BIG TREE OR PORCH OFFERS PROTECTION AGAINST A SUDDEN FROST OR A FEW DEGREES OF PROTECTION FROM A SUDDEN FREEZE. THE KEY AGAIN IS KNOWING WHAT YOU WILL DO. EARLY NOVEMBER IS A GREAT MONTH TO DO YOUR PLANNING EVERY YEAR.
 

8..AS YOU PUT AWAY YOUR PLANTS MAKE SURE YOU ARE INSPECTING THEM AGAINST ANY DISEASE OR INSECTS. IF YOU PUT DISEASED PLANTS INTO A GREENHOUSE OR CROWD THEM ONTO A PORCH, DISEASE IS GUARANTEED TO SPREAD AND GIVE YOU THE WINTERTIME BLUES.
 

9..GROUNDED PLANTS WILL DO BEST IF THEY ARE WELL ESTABLISHED. PLANT THEM EARLY FOR BEST SURVIVAL RESULTS. SELECTING A LOCATION ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF A STRUCTURE DEFLECTS NORTH AND NORTHWEST WINDS AND GIVES YOUR PLANTS THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.


10..SEVERAL MORE TIPS FOR IN GROUND PLANTS…


..LAYERING TO INSULATE WILL WORK BEST. TRY TO KEEP WHATEVER YOU USE DRY BY COVERING THEM WITH PLASTIC NOT TOUCHING THE PLANT. IN WARM DAYS THAT PLASTIC NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.
 

..OVERSIZED TOMATO CAGES FILLED WITH LEAVES OR COVERED WITH FABRIC IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT METHOD OF INSULATING YOUR PLANTS.
 

..FREEZE CLOTH CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE BIGGER STORES AND IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO ELIMINATE FROST DAMAGE ON YOUR PLANTS. YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT A FEED AND SEED STORE LIKE CHASTANT BROTHER’S IN LAFAYETTE OR THIBODEAUX’S IN ABBEVILLE.
 

..IF YOU HAVE ANY EXTRA TRAY CANS, THEY WILL WORK WELL AS A COVER DURING FROST OR COLD SNAPS. TRY IT.