Winter watering
Keeping soil moist throughout the season will help ensure that roses, other plants thrive in the spring
QI planted several big pots with miniature roses last year and they grew really well. What are the chances they will survive the winter and come back? — M.R.L., West Side
A:
I believe that, as long as you’ve kept the soil in your pots moist, your mini roses should come back. That’ll be the determining factor, though. If the soil has dried out, the roots aren’t protected at all and surely the plants will suffer — dreadfully. We’ve been fairly lucky with several rains and now some snow so far this season, but if you don’t augment the soil’s moisture on a regular basis, that’ll be the roses’ demise. In fact, everything in your landscaping, from trees, shrubs, lawns and all potted collections, will benefit significantly from periodic waterings during our dormant season. It sounds odd, I know, to water in the winter, but it’s truly needed. So keep the soil in your pots and landscaping moist, and remember to undo your hose from the spigot when you’re finished watering and rest knowing you’ve done all you can to ensure your potted mini roses ability to survive this winter.
Q: I have an airplane plant that I have ignored and it looks terrible. Can I repot it now and would that hurt it? It needs some care badly! — F.H.O., Albuquerque
A:
I think you have answered your own question. Since your airplane plant “looks terrible” and “needs care badly,” I would go ahead and do what needs to be done. Granted, it’s not typically the time yet for major houseplant repotting — that project is best done in late February through March — but it sounds like this baby needs your attention as soon as you can. Go for it!
Q: I spread some ice melt to combat the icy spots on my sidewalk and then read the packaging. It says to not use it around plants. My grass grows right up to the sidewalk. Have I hurt my lawn by spreading the ice melt granules? — N.K., Albuquerque
A: The packaging caution is correct. Don’t apply the ice melt directly on plant life since it’s usually a product that has a lot of sodium in its mix. Salt is very harmful to plant roots, so, yes, it can cause a lot of trouble in the long run. The best advice I can offer will be to flood irrigate the grass areas along the edge of the sidewalks as soon and as often as you can. That’ll dilute any salt accumulations, essentially washing the salt through the soil, and keeping any plants roots from drawing it up into itself. If you want to eliminate the use of ice melt (salt), you could sprinkle lawn fertilizer on the walks instead. The nitrogen it contains will act as an ice melt, too. There are a couple of words of caution when using a lawn fertilizer as an ice melt. First, make sure it’s straight lawn fertilizer. Be sure it doesn’t contain any weed killers or pre-emergent type extras in it. Just the fertilizer. Then know that, if the fertilizer contains iron, it could discolor the concrete, leaving rust spots of sorts and, to some, that’d be unacceptable. But as long as it’s straight fertilizer, there is a much less likely chance your plant life edging the sidewalk would be maimed. Certainly not like it could be if you apply a true ice melt product. However you choose to keep yourself safe, just be sure to water the space next to the sidewalk deeply and often as soon as the weather allows.
Q: I know the city recycles Christmas trees, but I need to know if I still have time. — C.C., West Side
A: You sure do! The city’s calendar says the treecycling program will go through Jan. 15. So, being a responsible member of our community, you still have that opportunity to have your cut Christmas tree recycled. Here on the West Side, the tree can be dropped off at Ladera Golf Course, 3401 Ladera NW, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. So get cracking, remember to transport the tree safely, remove any stands or Christmas decorations prior to delivering the tree, and know the tree will be turned into a reusable product that’ll help our landscaping. Remember, too, there are two additional treecycling sites in the metro area, plus two sites in the Rio Rancho area: Rio Rancho Sports Complex, 3501 High Resort Blvd. — the trees can be dropped off at any time — and at the Sandoval County Landfill, 2708 Iris Road — trees can be dropped off between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Let’s get those spent holiday treasures turned into something good. Happy New Year! Need tips on growing your garden? Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send your garden-related questions to Digging In, Rio West, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103.