The Nursery in Winter

Posted by Andrew Beckman

Things are pretty quiet at this time of year but there is always something to do.  Indoors, my partner, Bob, is finalizing the plant and pottery orders.  I am ordering seeds and have already started a few.  The warm green houses where we overwinter tender perennials is a refuge on snowy days. As usual for this time of year, there is plenty of pruning and grooming to do to keep the plants vigorous and healthy.

The sales benches are empty and the shade cloth has been removed from its frame.  Everything looks clean and tidy at this time of year - except the willow at the rear.  It was downed by the ice storm before the holidays.

The seeds that need a cold treat are left on the outdoor potting bench for several months.  They will then go into the warm greenhouse to germinate.

Some seeds start in the greenhouse and then move outdoors.  Hopefully they will sprout in the warmth of the natural spring.

Perennials in gallon pots are lined up shoulder to shoulder, covered with a quilted foam blanket and then covered white plastic.  The whole thing is weighted with bricks and bards to keep it from blowing away in the winter wind.  These plants should stay frozen until early March.

Smaller pots of perennials go into a cold house.  It is a simple hoop greenhouse covered in white plastic.  The temperature should stay uniformly cold until spring.

The shrubs get their own house.

Some deciduous and evergreen hollies that provide a bright moment when we go in to check on things.