Letters to the Editor: SPRING CLEAN UP

Dear Editor,

I’m assuming you made or have you landscape plan. While some may have brand new yards to plant. But, for the majority, I’m assuming most of you can do some work in your yard, as weather allows. For, even though, snow drifts and snow showers are still part of our landscape, on warmer days spring clean up can begin. It is also the perfect time to prune bushes and trees. Some of you even may have a fruit tree to prune.

Throughout the years, I have planted a number of fruit trees. While I wasn’t optimistic about getting fruit, their blossoms make them an excellent ornamental tree and provide early food for the pollinators. Surprisingly, some of those trees have often produced mature fruit.

If you decide to purchase trees, make sure they will grow in zone 4. Though we often can grow zone 5 plants, it is pushing it to plant them here.

Unfortunately, I began growing fruit trees without “how to” information. For, pruning needs to happen as the fruit tree grows. Belatedly I bought an excellent little paperback by Harry Baker called Growing Fruit. It has a section on renovation of neglected trees. It can be obtained at Raintree Nursery. They also have excellent stock and fertilizer specifically for fruit trees.

To renovate a fruit tree overcrowded spurs need to be removed in the winter. Then, gradually prune over time to keep the tree symmetrical.

Your other trees are best pruned while dormant also. You may be able to do it yourself if they aren’t too large. But, don’t attempt to prune large trees with a chain saw without using proper equipment and safety measures. It can be a disaster waiting to happen. On the other hand, you probably can prune your own smaller trees. Just make sure your ladder is securely anchored and don’t extend chain saws or other power equipment over your head. For medium sized branches, though it is a bit expensive, I have found my Black and Decker Alligator pruning tool to be a god send. It is essentially a chainsaw safely enclosed inside an alligator like mouth. If you have a large amount of pruning to do, the tool makes fast work of it and it is safely designed. On the other hand, there are many hand tools that work just fine, if you are in good shape and don’t mind the exertion.

Some shrubs can be pruned while dormant, others need to be pruned or thinned after they bloom. Again, it pays to invest in good gardening guides.

Rose canes need to be pruned, as soon as you can tell which canes have survived the cold. Old coffee and tea grounds and pulverized eggs shells that you have saved, can be scattered around the plants. But, hold off on fertilizing until frost is gone. Then loosen up the mulch around them and rake in blood or bone meal and epson salts. Fish emulsion solutions can be feed throughout the season.

It would be wonderful if all the fall harvesting had been finished to allow for bed preparation then. But, most of us have to wait patiently for the snow to go and the frost to come out of the ground. This can be accelerated by covering your garden beds with clear plastic to solarize your soil. Often this will cause weed seeds to germinate and then get baked.

As bare ground and ground appears, some raking can be done, but don’t disturb those blankets of plant debris on perennial beds. They need protection from late snows and frost. When the emerging plants are pushing their way through, you will know it is time to either remove or reposition as mulch.

Garbage has usually been blown into most yards and it is satisfying to clean up yards, alleys and the edges of streets as another growing season begins. Before you know it, we will be very busy with our gardening plans. No one wants to spend time then cleaning up.

Signed,

Barbara Parsons

Rawlins, WY