The Master Gardener Articles

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How Can Winter Cold Affect Plants?

Winter is not only hard on gardeners, but also on plants. Cold temperatures can injure plants in several ways. First, plants not hardy to your zone (Central Ohio is, for example, in zone 5b, with average annual minimum temperatures of 10 to 15 below zero) may suffer injury or succumb to low temperatures. Plants can be injured when temperatures are cold earlier than usual in the fall, later than usual in late winter, when there is not much snow cover, when plants are already stressed going into winter, and when there are great fluctuations in temperature during the winter.

How Can You Test Seed for Germination Potential?

A good activity for February is to test leftover seed for germination potential, especially if seed is more than a couple of years old, and if it was not stored properly. Wet a paper towel and lay 10 seeds on it, an inch from one edge; fold this edge over the seeds. Now roll the paper towel up from the other side. Tie at the top to make a "rag doll." Place the paper towel where it will stay warm (such as the top of the refrigerator), and keep moist. In a few days, unroll the towel to check germination percentage. This will give you an idea of whether to discard the seed and purchase fresh, whether to sow seed more heavily or whether there is no reduction in germination and seed can be sown at a normal rate.

Ornamental Grasses

When should I cut back my ornamental grasses?
Remember to cut down ornamental grasses in early March. Cut to within a few inches of the ground using hedge shears, loppers, or even a string trimmer. Fertilization is required to compensate for nutrient loss; apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet. Calcium and magnesium are lost when removing foliage, therefore a soil test for deficiencies of these elements should be carried out periodically and recommendations followed.

How do I divide a clump of ornamental grass?
Should it be done in the spring or fall? If dividing established grasses, do so as new growth emerges in the spring and try to keep some soil around the root system. This can be backbreaking work, as root systems and crowns can become almost woody; have an axe and saw ready to cut into the crowns of the larger, coarser grasses. Fertilize established ornamental grasses in spring with one to two pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet, after you cut back the tops. Don't overdo the fertilizer as the stems can become floppy and may then require staking.