Hard freezes in Oklahoma close books on annuals
We have now experienced a couple of hard freezes that have closed out the growing season for all of our warm-season crops.
There may be a few survivors that were in protected microclimates but most of our begonias, impatiens, tomatoes, peppers and other annual crops now have frozen to the ground and are becoming compost or returning to dust.
Most of our perennials have frozen to the ground, but their roots will live on and they will sprout again next spring to launch another growing season.
Leaves have been falling from our deciduous trees as if a switch was turned with the hard freeze below 25 degrees and a little Oklahoma wind.
Many people just rake, bag and throw away their leaves, but if you have a spot to mound them up or to contain them they make great compost or mulch to use in your garden in future years. These “used” leaves still have a lot of good nutrition and organic matter that can be composted to use to enrich our future gardening activities.
While much of the plant world dies or goes into hibernation, our evergreen shrubs become the focal point of our landscape. Broadleaf evergreen shrubs — like hollies and euonymus — and needlepoint evergreens — like junipers, spruce and pines — still will provide nice bright green or gray-green foliage to liven up our winter landscapes.
We do have some flowers that will make a show right through our winter weather and actually like the cold weather. If you haven’t already planted some ornamental kale and cabbage, you should consider picking up a few plants to add to your garden. Their beautiful large and colorful foliage can add life to the dull winter landscape.
Pansies are the superstar of the winter garden as they will grow and flower all through the late fall, winter and early spring cold fronts. They produce mesmerizing flower faces in a multitude of colors and color combinations.
Nothing beats a light snow over your pansy flower beds and seeing their cute flower faces of purple, yellow, red or blue poking through the snow to flash their color and show their charm.
If you haven’t already planted pansies, ornamental kale or cabbage, there is still time to go by your local garden center and get some to plant so you can liven up the flower beds along your front sidewalks or around your rear patio.
Pansies will do better in the full sun through the winter months when we have shorter days and less intense light so they can get all the light possible.
This is a great time to buy your spring flowering bulbs and get them planted as soon as possible. They will produce roots and grow underground so they will be ready to leap from the ground next spring. Plant crocus, tulips, hyacinth or my favorite the impressive daffodils now to earn their spring flower show next March and April.