Country work in winter. Garden work, winter

During the winter months there is activity outside country house decreases, the time comes to prepare for numerous winter holidays. But for real gardeners, even during this period there is enough work in the garden, especially if the weather permits.

Flowers in the winter garden

So what gardening jobs are waiting to be done? If you have roses, hydrangeas or other flowers planted in your garden, then you have probably arranged for them winter shelter. And after severe bad weather, it would be very wise to check the condition of these shelters and correct them if necessary.

Cleaning and trimming plants

Taking advantage of a clear winter day, in the absence of snow cover, why not start cleaning up fallen leaves, pruning perennial plants and elimination of overgrown plants.

If the temperature is still in the positive part of the thermometer, and the ground has not yet frozen, then nothing prevents the planned transplants and plantings, as well as tree cuttings. In warm regions, stone fruits are pruned in winter. fruit trees and fruit and berry bushes (currants, raspberries, blackberries, etc.). Also, during the winter months, it is quite possible to prune decorative trees and shrubs. Although there are exceptions.

It is better not to touch lilac, mock orange, and forsythia, since they bloom on last year’s shoots already in spring or early summer. Such species are pruned after they have finished flowering.

Harvesting and sowing seeds

In winter, plants are sown (calendula, lavender, poppy), which require cold for normal germination. Moreover, such annuals are usually sown in the fall, but it is still possible in winter if the soil is not frozen.

In warmer areas, parsnips, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green cabbage and other winter crops are still being harvested.

Repair work in the winter garden

In winter, it can be easier to find time to check the condition of garden benches, tables, and, if necessary, correct a fence, flower bed or rock garden. A useful measure would be to repair broken garden equipment in order to spring work be fully prepared. Or maybe your gutters and gutters need cleaning?

Warm winter not a bad time for a device decorative pond or additional paths in the garden.

“I feel sorry for the bird” - we set up bird feeders

How are things going in the greenhouses?

Don’t forget about the perennials overwintering in an insulated greenhouse or on the terrace; take a look at how your fuchsias, pelargoniums and other green pets are doing there. In the last part of winter, prune their trunks so that the side shoots grow more actively and the plants become more luxuriant. To speed up the growing season, you can move the plants to a warmer place. temperature conditions and better lighting.

You also need to periodically monitor how the dug up bulbs and rhizomes of dahlias, cannas, gladioli and other heat-loving plants are stored.

Winter is the time to make plans!

Sitting at home in warmth and comfort and looking out the window at your winter garden (or remembering it if you are in the city), you may come up with more than one good idea for improving it. In winter, it’s good to think through your plans so that you can start implementing them in the spring. And if necessary, it’s worth visiting the garden center and purchasing everything you need for the plot during the winter sale, which usually takes place in January.

When asked what to do in the winter at the dacha, you can often hear the following answer: “Relax, ski, cook barbecue, have fun in good company.” Without arguing with this point of view, you still need to understand that the majority of Russian summer residents will find things to do in the winter that will prepare their garden for the next season.

What to do in winter at the dacha

Happy is the summer resident who can get to his property in winter! When I was young, I had this opportunity, and visited the dacha in winter at least once a month. Alas, now for many reasons this is impossible, and therefore you can only sigh and hope that nothing bad happened there and everything goes on as usual. But it would be worth helping your silent pets in winter.

Snow worries

Winter is a snowy time, but snow does not always accumulate where it is needed. Therefore, a snow shovel in winter is one of the main tools. You need to throw more snow under the trees and on the berry bushes and trample them down (carefully so as not to break the branches), and on the contrary, throw them off the roof of the greenhouse, and perhaps even the house. If there is a serious snowfall and huge snow caps form on the tree branches, it is better to shake them off.

The snow is heavy, it can break branches, and during a thaw and subsequent frosts it will turn into ice and will not allow the branches to breathe.

Perhaps problem branches on trees should be tied with ropes to the trunk or propped up under them: after all, snowfall can happen even in our absence! If large branches have already broken, you will have to cut them down immediately, but not “into a ring,” but leaving stumps until spring; The work will need to be completed in March or early April.

Working with trees

In winter, almost nothing is done to fruit trees, but if you didn’t have time to whiten the trunks and prune them in November, and December turned out to be frost-free, you can still have time to do this before the new year. As a last resort, you can do whitewashing on the warm days of February, but this is risky: it is at the end of winter that the sun is the worst for boles, it seems to be still cold, and the sun’s rays are already burning the bark, leaving frost holes.

When whitewashing, not only the trunk is captured, but also the main branches

It is in winter, in relatively warm weather, that cuttings are taken for grafting. It’s better to do it in December, before severe frosts. The cuttings are stored in the cellar. It’s not worth leaving this work for January-February: you never know what the weather will be like? Annual shoots do not always easily tolerate abnormal cold.

December can be so warm that it even allows you to replant young trees and shrubs, but this must be done with a large ball of earth.

Protective measures

The best insulation in a garden is snow: a sufficient layer reliably protects the roots of trees and shrubs, strawberry plantings, grapevines laid on the ground, and winter plantings of onions and garlic from frost. But if the beginning of winter turns out to be snowless and the frosts are significant, the plants have to be insulated with improvised materials. Coniferous spruce branches, spunbond, sawdust and even earth are used, with a small layer of which you can temporarily cover problem parts of plants.

Coniferous branches protect trees from frost and rodents

If protection against rodents has not been carried out since the fall, you need to do this in the winter. Young trees are protected from hares and mice by tying them nylon tights, older trees - with pine or spruce branches. IN country house

lay out poisoned bait against mice and rats.

Preparation of tools, equipment, planting material

Winter is the right time to sharpen tools, lubricate mechanisms, make and repair seedling boxes. Many of these tasks are done at home, but rakes and shovels are stored in the garden shed! At the same time, they conduct an audit of fertilizers and pesticides and purchase the missing ones. Gladioli bulbs, dahlia tubers, etc. are also often stored in the country basement. With each visit, their condition must be checked.

In the spring there will be no time to make boxes; this work is done in the winter

In winter, there is enough time to select and purchase seeds for the new season. Well, many crops, especially flowers, are sown as seedlings already in February or even earlier. This is, for example, Snapdragon, petunia, morning glory, and many already sow eggplant and pepper seeds in pots in February.

Theoretical work

Of course, you can read garden books or thematic websites without leaving your home. But it’s safer to check your thoughts on choosing the location of a particular crop in the new season directly on the site. Plans are also made there. possible repairs or reconstruction garden house, buildings, fences, etc.

Country cares do not end in November. Most hobbyists visit their sites in winter, since there is always a useful and favorite activity there.

What needs to be done in the garden in winter. What garden work needs to be done in December, January, February.

Garden work in December

Although all plants are personal plot sleep, gardeners cannot ignore them, and therefore all their actions should be aimed at preparing for the growing season.

You can begin to prepare cuttings from healthy mother trees and beautiful flowering shrubs for grafting. Well-ripened shoots (15-40 cm long) from the top of the crown are suitable. It is necessary to harvest from the south or west side. It is better to store cuttings in the snow, and before snow falls, in the refrigerator, wrapped in film or several layers of damp newspaper.

Check hedges of deciduous trees and shrubs, prune old, neglected and bare underneath. To stimulate the regrowth of new shoots in the spring, cut back to half their height.

Before the permanent snow cover falls, carry out the final work on the lawn: use a fan rake to rake all the fallen leaves and store them in a special compost container.

Leave fallen leaves under the trees as a protective layer and humus supplier.

Collection and destruction of pests overwintering in the garden (carry out throughout the entire winter season with each visit to the garden).

Garden work in January

All household concerns should be switched to repairs and proper storage garden tools and equipment; if possible, it is necessary to purchase small-scale mechanization equipment.

Think over the layout of flower beds, ridges, rock gardens, rockeries and other parts of the garden. IN last years It is customary to create flower beds in a certain color scheme. Winter is the time to make your choice and think about what types and varieties of annuals, biennials and perennials you should purchase or grow seedlings so that you can plant them in the garden in the spring without much hassle.

Regularly check in the basement the safety of dahlia tubers, bulbs of ornamental crops left for the winter and other planting material. In order not to create a center of rot, discard rotten and wet ones.

Check seeds (not sown in previous years) for germination. Purchase the necessary seeds of flower crops, provided they are grown through seedlings at home.

Prepare a soil substrate for growing flower seedlings at home.

In the first half - end of January, carry out preparatory treatment and sowing of seeds of anthyrrinum (snapdragon), verbena, gatsania, heliotrope and carnations (Chinese, garden and Chabot), as well as calceolaria, lobelia and polygonum. Early sowing will allow plants to bloom as early as May.

Winter planting of large trees along with a lump.

Stratify (pre-freeze) the seeds of crops such as adonis, aconite (wrestler), gentian and lavender. Sow the seeds in shallow containers in damp sand, peat or moss and keep them under snow (or in the refrigerator at a temperature of 1-5°C) to speed up their germination.

Place the forcing bulbs in a warm place to create conditions for flowering in February - early March.

Care for plants in the winter garden and on the windowsill, loosening dry soil, watering and fertilizing.

Garden work in February

On warm days (during thaws), prune decorative deciduous trees and shrubs, with the exception of blooming in spring. It is better to do this when the threat of severe frost has passed. Remove all old branches to allow more light and air into the crown. This technique will allow the plants to bloom more abundantly in the summer.

Select flower annuals with a long growing season necessary for the garden and sow them for seedlings. These include ageratum, aster (annual), Waller's balsam, begonia, heliotrope, cobea, coleus, kochia, craspedia, salvia (sage), pelargonium, petunia, statice, thunbergia and cineraria. You can sow viola from biennials, and aquilegia and delphinium from perennials.

Postpone mother plants chrysanthemums from basements and greenhouses to heated rooms to obtain green cuttings.

When visiting the garden, monitor the flower garden and, if necessary, protect it from mice attacks (especially those areas where bulbous plants are planted).

There is enough work in the garden and vegetable garden for all year round. Beginning gardeners mistakenly believe that after harvesting and preparing crops for winter, there is a time to rest until spring. This is wrong. There is enough work in the garden, and even if the work schedule is not as intense as in spring or summer, but nevertheless, neglecting this work threatens to disrupt plans and rush during the active season. Timely completion of work in the garden is the key to a successful start to the season and a productive end. What winter work cannot be postponed until spring, we will look into today’s article.

Winter work in the garden

I'll start my own step by step instructions from winter work in the garden. The amount of work depends on what kind of winter it was this year. But in any case, the first month of winter is not at all stable, then severe frost, then a slight thaw, snowfall gives way to slush. On a rainy, wet early winter, make every effort to keep your plants warm.

• Snow on the site. When winter has fully come into its own, take care of the optimal distribution of snow. Snow will be welcome in the garden beds fruit crops and perennials, while there is definitely excess snow on the paths for moving around the site. Clear the snow from the paths, freeing up movement around the site for family members, and scatter the resulting snowdrifts over the beds and tree trunks of fruit trees and shrubs. You can carefully and lightly trample the snow, especially around trees and bushes, this method will help retain moisture underground long time, and also protect the horse system of plants from hypothermia.
• It will not be superfluous to compact the snow along the fence, along the perimeter of the site. This method will protect the area from attacks by hares and voles.

• Before snow falls, strengthen the position of fruit tree branches with supports. Under the weight of snow cover, branches get injured; this can only be avoided with timely care.
• If the tree is broken, evaluate the extent of the breakage of the shoot; the method of treating the tree depends on its severity. A garden varnish can handle small wounds; deeper wounds need to be treated with a solution of copper sulfate, and then filled with cement. If large skeletal branches split, pull them together and secure with twine or staples.
• Regularly inspect the trees in your garden for pests. If traces of insect activity are found, cut off the shoots with a sharp knife and treat with garden varnish.

• Crafts will provide protection against insect attacks on fruit trees. To prepare a whitewash solution you will need water, chalk (slaked lime), PVA glue and copper sulfate. Dilute 3 kg of chalk or lime in 10 liters of water; in a separate container, combine copper sulfate (0.5 kg) with warm water. Add 100 grams of glue to the solution, combine both liquids. Proper whitewash should have the consistency of sour cream. Whitewashing of fruit trees is carried out in two stages, the second time after the first has completely dried.
• With all your winter gardening work, don’t forget about yourself. Winter is the right time to use the accumulated berry harvest to create healthy, immunity-boosting drinks. If you miss working in the ground, plant citrus crops at home; they will easily and without delay take root in a home pot if you create suitable conditions for them.

Winter work in the greenhouse

Since a greenhouse is not only a large structure on the site, but also small containers installed on the windowsills of every gardener, work in these greenhouses will also be discussed.

• The beginning of winter is the time to prepare containers for planting seedlings. If the plot area is large, a lot of space will be required, and there will not be enough window sills. Extend the window sill by securing the sturdy plywood to the sill with screws.
• Also prepare the containers for planting seedlings in advance, since a large volume will require many containers. Place five-liter plastic water bottles on their sides and cut off one third of the height of the bottle with sharp scissors. Don't forget to use an awl to make drainage holes at the bottom of the container. If you use Tetra Pak bags as containers, keep the juice cartons for yourself; milk cartons are dangerous for plantings.
• We move on to full-fledged greenhouses, where there is also a lot of work in winter. Winter work in a greenhouse they begin with it and replacing the soil. To save time, you can start the procedures in the fall, when the harvest is harvested and the main work has stopped.

• Inspect the windows of the greenhouse; if there are places of breakage, cracks and sash deviations from the profile, the problem must be corrected. The most practical way is to dissolve paraffin and cover the broken area with it using a syringe. However, there are many methods that differ in price and labor costs; you can always choose one that suits you.
• When the greenhouse is ready for the new season, begin planting early-ripening crops. It is worth noting that this point is only possible in heated greenhouses; in others, planting will have to be postponed until the beginning of spring. Among the early ripening crops one can distinguish several varieties of cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, onion, but remember that even if the greenhouse is warm, this does not mean there is enough light. Use extra light.

Winter work in the flower garden

In the flower garden, be it a flower bed on the site or a greenhouse in the house, work is also in full swing without a break for the winter. Winter work in the flower garden includes:

• Planting annual flowers. The advantage of planting them in winter is the ability to use any seeds, even those that have expired. The disadvantage is that not every crop can be planted before winter. Only frost-resistant flowers can be planted in a flower garden before winter. There is no need to dig up the ground to plant seeds. Lightly compact the snow, make small depressions in the snow into which pour the seeds. Pour dry and warm soil on top, and complete the planting with a layer of snow.
• Increased daylight hours. In winter, the plants in the home flower garden are in dire need of daylight. This can be determined by the plant itself: the leaves and shoots become sluggish and stretch towards the window. Do not delay the situation and wait for the flowers to become ill; install and connect a phytolamp, a huge range of which you will find in any flower shop. Be careful when watering, turn off the lamp while spraying flowers: getting water on the glass bulb can cause an explosion and failure of the lamp.

• Washing indoor plants. In winter, the indoor air is usually too dry; in addition, dust accumulates on the leaves of plants at home, which negatively affects the growth and development of the crop. To help your flowers during this period, have a clean day every two weeks. Dense leaves large flowers gently wipe with a damp cloth, and simply place plants with small leaves in the bathtub under the shower. Just be sure to check the low water pressure and the temperature at least 30 degrees. To avoid disease, wait until the flowers dry before replacing the plant.

• Plant nutrition. Only planted annual crops are in a passive phase in winter, while perennial plants mostly go dormant in winter. Therefore, applying fertilizers to the soil is not recommended at this time of year. However, using, for example, finely crushed eggshells performs two tasks simultaneously: saturating the soil with calcium and magnesium, as well as repelling pests from the beds. Infusion from onion peel, applied to the plant by spraying, protects perennials from attacks by spider mites. A day after treatment, wipe the leaves of the plant with a damp cloth, or rinse the flower under warm water.

This article clearly proves the fact that the presence of cold and a thick layer of snow on the site is not a reason for rest. There is enough work in the garden and vegetable garden in winter, and postponing it until March will lead to excessive workload in the spring.

During the winter months, activity outside the country house decreases, and it is time to prepare for numerous winter holidays. But for real gardeners, even during this period there is enough work in the garden, especially if the weather permits.

Flowers in the winter garden

So what gardening jobs are waiting to be done? If you have roses, hydrangeas or other flowers in your garden, then you have probably arranged a winter shelter for them. And after severe bad weather, it would be very wise to check the condition of these shelters and correct them if necessary.

Cleaning and trimming plants

Taking advantage of a clear winter day in the absence of snow cover, why not start cleaning up fallen leaves, pruning perennials and eliminating overgrown plants.

If the temperature is still in the positive part of the thermometer, and the ground has not yet frozen, then nothing prevents the planned transplants and plantings, as well as tree cuttings. In warm regions, stone fruit trees and fruit and berry bushes (currants, raspberries, blackberries, etc.) are pruned in winter. Also, during the winter months, it is quite possible to prune decorative trees and shrubs. Although there are exceptions.

It is better not to touch lilac, mock orange, and forsythia, since they bloom on last year’s shoots already in spring or early summer. Such species are pruned after they have finished flowering.

Harvesting and sowing seeds

In winter, plants are sown (calendula, lavender, poppy), which require cold for normal germination. Moreover, such annuals are usually sown in the fall, but it is still possible in winter if the soil is not frozen.

In warmer areas, parsnips, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green cabbage and other winter crops are still being harvested.

Repair work in the winter garden

In winter, it can be easier to find time to check the condition of garden benches, tables, and, if necessary, correct a fence, flower bed or rock garden. A useful measure would be to repair broken garden tools so that you can be fully equipped for spring work. Or maybe your gutters and gutters need cleaning?

A warm winter is not a bad time to build a decorative pond or additional paths in the garden.

“I feel sorry for the bird” - we set up bird feeders

How are things going in the greenhouses?

Don’t forget about the perennials overwintering in an insulated greenhouse or on the terrace; take a look at how your fuchsias, pelargoniums and other green pets are doing there. In the last part of winter, prune their trunks so that the side shoots grow more actively and the plants become more luxuriant. To speed up the growing season, you can move the plants to a place with warmer temperatures and better light.

You also need to periodically monitor how the dug up bulbs and rhizomes of dahlias, cannas, gladioli and other heat-loving plants are stored.

Winter is the time to make plans!

Sitting at home in warmth and comfort and looking out the window at your winter garden (or remembering it if you are in the city), you may come up with more than one good idea for improving it. In winter, it’s good to think through your plans so that you can start implementing them in the spring. And if necessary, it’s worth visiting the garden center and purchasing everything you need for the plot during the winter sale, which usually takes place in January.

With the onset of winter, garden trees plunged into a state of absolute dormancy. But even now the good owners have no time to relax; it’s time to do winter work in the garden.

First of all, care must be taken to protect trees from pests and sunburn. One of the best ways- whitewashing. And don’t worry if you didn’t have time to do this in the fall, trees can be whitened in winter.

The only condition is that this can be done at above-zero temperatures (and in our climate zone this often happens even in the middle of winter).

A high-viscosity lime mortar is suitable for whitewashing. To prepare it, take 2-3 kg of freshly slaked lime or chalk, 100 g of PVA glue and 400-500 g for a 10-liter bucket of water. copper sulfate, divorced in hot water. The mixture should have the consistency of thick sour cream, without lumps. You can also purchase ready solution(in specialized stores), or you can whitewash trees with acrylic paint - it does not wash off and reflects light well.
In this case, several nuances should be taken into account.

• Firstly, young trees with smooth bark can only be whitened lime mortar, but paint cannot be used, since it will not allow air to pass through.
• Secondly, before whitewashing, the trunk must be cleaned - dry bark, moss, lichens with a scraper or metal brush.

After this, the cracks are covered with garden varnish.

Garden var

It is prepared like this: melt 6 parts of paraffin, add 3 parts of crushed rosin and bring the mixture to a boil. Next, add 2 parts of sunflower oil and boil for 10 minutes over low heat. When the brew has cooled, knead it and transfer it to a jar with a tight lid.

Another one: take 1 part each of rosin and wax and 4 parts of unsalted fat (lard, sunflower oil). Combine everything and, stirring, melt over low heat. The finished mixture can be stored in a jar for more than 10 years.

Trees need to be whitewashed to a height of 1.5-1.7 m from the ground - and not only the trunk, but also the skeletal branches (young trees can only be whitened up to the first branching). The solution should be applied at least twice to form a reliable protective layer: Wait until the white paint dries a little, and then go over the trunk again.

Insulation of trees and shrubs

In January, especially at night, severe frosts are possible. And one more concern of the gardener is to reliably insulate the plants.

The best material for this is, of course, one that will also provide a good supply of moisture in the spring (ideally, its layer should be at least 40 cm).
Therefore, fruit trees in summer cottages are periodically covered with snow; at the slightest opportunity - after each snowfall - cover the trees with snow, protecting them from the cold.

In order to accumulate as much snow as possible on the site, they make snow banks, lay out branches and put up shields.

And in order for the snow mound to also become a protection against pests, you should water it cold water. Then an ice crust will form, which will protect the tree bark from mice and hares.

Rodent protection

If this is not possible or watering is quite labor-intensive, then to protect the trees, at least compact the snow around the trunk with your feet.

This technique will prevent mice from sneaking under the snow to a tree and gnawing the bark on its trunk. Naphthalene, mint, tar, creolin are also used - these products are scattered around the tree trunk.

To protect fruit trees from hares, their trunks are coated with a solution of mullein and freshly slaked lime: freshly slaked lime is dissolved in water (so that the mass is 1 kg) and mixed with a bucket of mullein.

Young trees, whose roots are very vulnerable, especially need a snow coat. And also such frost-unresistant crops as plums, cherries, sweet cherries, as well as apple and pear trees on vegetative rootstocks.

To accumulate more snow, cover the trunks of fruit trees with boards, branches, and other materials that will retain it.

Don't forget to sprinkle strawberries, wild strawberries, red and black currant bushes, raspberries, gooseberries and other berries with snow.

But for such a delicate crop as peach, just snowdrifts will not help. The tree must be covered with boards at a distance of 30-50 cm from the trunk, thus forming a box. It is filled with straw, covered with plywood on top and only then the snow is shoveled away.

Pay attention to the seedlings buried for planting in the spring. It is advisable to cover them especially generously with snow.

And try not to trample on fresh snow near the seedlings - through compacted snow frost penetrates more easily to the roots.

Although snow for winter garden- Worth its weight in gold, it can also cause harm: heavy rainfall often breaks off branches. Therefore, after a good snowfall, the crown must be carefully shaken off. And for small trees, you should carefully tie the skeletal branches in advance.

In snowless winters, trees are insulated with straw, old rags, reeds, pine branches, etc.

Burlap is wrapped on top and secured with rope (wire should not be used). The insulation must cover the trunk at least 1.5 m from the ground.

Tree crown pruning

In winter it is very convenient to spend time in the garden. After all, at this time the entire crown is in full view. But just do not forget to carefully treat the cut areas with garden varnish.

And keep in mind:

The purpose of winter pruning is not so much to form the crown, but to ensure proper sanitary conditions.

At this time, it is advisable to remove dead branches affected by diseases or pests - they cannot be left until spring.

First determine where their nests are.

Take a long stick and screw a strong wire to its end. Secure a ball of cotton wool on it, moisten it with kerosene (gasoline) and carefully set it on fire. Try to burn out all the pest nests while the cotton wool is burning.

It is better to postpone formative and rejuvenating pruning until February-March. But if you still decide to hold them in the first half of winter, it is important that the branches extending from the trunk remain no shorter than 50-60 cm in length. And this should be done when severe frosts are not predicted.

Of course, we cannot ignore the berry plant - we have already mentioned this.

Raspberries need special protection. Its stems should be bent so that they are completely under the snow. In the event of a thaw and the formation of an ice crust, carefully shake off the branches so as not to break them.

Shoots and gooseberries should be tied together. And all the lower branches need to be cut off. Before severe cold weather, tightly wrap dogwood trees with agrofibre and carefully insulate them. And if necessary, sprinkle it well with fresh snow.

If there are flower bulbs in storage, they are sorted out. Diseased bulbs and tubers are treated by cutting out diseased areas and sprinkling the cut areas with charcoal.

And in the spring, when your garden turns green and colorful, you will feel satisfied that you did not forget about it in winter and did not regret your time and efforts.

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Winter work in the garden is mandatory, despite the fact that fruit trees and shrubs are in a state of absolute dormancy. The owners of the plots cannot relax in any way, because the future harvest will depend on the quality and timely work carried out in the garden in winter.

The effectiveness of whitewashing tree trunks depends on weather conditions; all work must be carried out at a temperature above 0 degrees. Whitening should be done with a high-viscosity lime mortar. There is nothing complicated in cooking. In 10 liters of water we dilute 2.5 (maximum 3) kg of chalk or fresh slaked lime, add 100 grams of PVA glue and half a kilo of copper sulfate. Before adding, dilute the vitriol itself in hot water. The finished mixture should look like thick sour cream and should not contain lumps.

Special stores sell ready-made whitening solution; you can buy it and not worry about whether you can prepare it correctly yourself. You can also whiten the trunks using acrylic paint, which adheres well to the bark, reflects the sun's rays and does not wash off.

Nuances to consider when doing this work

1. Trees should be whitened only after preliminary preparation of the trunk. It is necessary to remove the moss, clean the trunk of lichens and dry bark. This is best done with a scraper. If you use a metal brush, you need to be careful and carry out all work carefully so as not to harm the tree bark.

2. You can’t use it for whitewashing young trees with smooth bark. acrylic paint, it is better to use lime mortar.

3. After cleaning, all cracks in the trees must be covered with garden varnish.

Preparation of garden varnish

At home, putty is prepared in two ways, and the self-prepared putty is absolutely identical to that which can be purchased in the store.

1. You need to take unsalted fat or sunflower oil, rosin and wax, in a ratio of 4:1:1, combine, put on low heat and heat up. The finished putty prepared in this way can be stored in a closed container for about 10 years.

2. Add 3 parts of crushed rosin to 6 parts of pre-melted paraffin and continue heating over low heat until the mixture boils. Then we add vegetable oil(2 parts) and boil for 10 minutes over low heat. Now the brew needs to be allowed to cool, after which it should be transferred to a suitable container and sealed tightly.

Rules for whitewashing trees and shrubs

To form a good layer, you need to bleach the trunks 2 times. It is recommended to apply the solution to tree trunks up to a height of 1.5 m from the surface, and young skeletal branches should also be whitened with the solution.

Attention!

In winter, shrubs and trees need warm “clothing”

January is a difficult month for trees. Night frosts can damage the root system of plants, leading to their death. Therefore, the main task of the gardener at this time is insulation. fruit bushes and trees.

The most reliable insulation is snow. It will not only provide protection to the tree, but will also provide a sufficient amount of moisture after thawing. Ideally, the layer of snow near the tree should not be less than 40 cm. The gardener is obliged to “hill” the trees and shrubs with snow after each snowfall. This is the only way to avoid freezing of plants. Moreover, snow should be collected away from plants so as not to expose their delicate root system.

Hilling with snow is good for snowy winters. And in mild winters you need to collect snow: make shafts, place shields and lay out branches. If there is a snowless winter, the trees can be insulated with old rags, straw, spruce branches, reeds, and burlap tied on top with a rope.

For your information!

Pear and apple trees on vegetative rootstocks, young plums, cherries and cherries need a snow coat. Their root system more vulnerable than that of old trees, so they primarily need protection from rodents.

A snow coat will not help peach and apricot. Here we need to do things differently. At a distance of 40 centimeters from the trunk, we place boards to make a square, pour straw inside, cover everything with pieces of plywood and only then pour in snow.

Bushes of gooseberries, black and red currants, yellow and red raspberries (article), as well as strawberries need insulation. Plantings need to be covered with snow. And you should not constantly stomp near the plantings, compacting the snow, since compacted snow makes it easier for frost to reach the root system of trees. But heavy snowfalls can also cause damage to the garden. Tree branches can break under the weight of fallen snow, so during snowy winters you need to regularly shake snow off the branches.

Protecting plantings from rodents in winter

The snow mound may become reliable protection from rodents and pests if the snow around the tree is watered with cold water. As a result, a crust is formed that will not allow hares and mice to damage the tree bark. If it is not possible to add water under each tree and shrub, you can simply trample the snow with your feet in the circle around the trunk. This technique will prevent mice from getting to the trunk and gnawing on the bark.

Tar, creolin or mint will help repel small rodents. The selected product must be scattered over the surface of the tree trunk circle. Grapes bent to the ground during the winter will be protected by sawdust. We protect the garden from hares using a solution of slaked lime and mullein. You can prepare it like this: dilute 1 kg of lime in a bucket of mullein and coat the trunks.

Pruning garden trees

IN winter time needs pruning fruit plants, during which it is necessary to remove all weak branches affected by insects and diseases. After pruning, you need to cover the cut areas with garden varnish.

The gypsy moth lays eggs on twigs. To remove clutches of eggs, you need to take pruning shears and cut out their nests right with the twigs. Mummified fruits should not be left on trees, as they are sources of infectious diseases.

Gooseberries and currants are susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew and glass. To remove these spores and pests, you need to drench the plants. hot water, almost boiling water.

Cosmetic repair of furniture and arrangement of a decorative garden in winter

Winter is a good time to carry out gardening work. During this period, you can repair arches, pergolas, wicker furniture, fences and correct flower beds. In your free time, it is recommended to make supports that will be needed to support the branches of apple and pear trees.

Needs to be arranged garden paths, build a rock garden or rock garden. In dry, warm weather, you can arrange a dry stream or decorative pond.

In winter, you need to take care of the birds and make feeders for them. We need to help them survive the winter, because birds rarely manage to find food for themselves under a layer of snow. Feathered friends, as a sign of gratitude, will destroy pests in the garden plot.

And, most importantly, winter is free time; there is an opportunity to make work plans (write them down on paper) for the new season, so that with the first drop and on sunny days you can start putting them into practice.

With the arrival of spring, when and, you will feel satisfaction from the fact that it was not in vain that efforts were made and a lot of personal time was devoted to caring for the garden during the winter period. In response to concern, orchard will reward the owners bountiful harvest, and in ornamental garden You will be able to enjoy the bright colors of flowering plants.

Although winter has come, and there are fewer worries in the summer cottages, nevertheless, even in winter a carefree life is not expected. Concerns do not go away fully and therefore take care of your own summer cottage necessary even in winter. Today we will talk about what winter work in the garden is needed to maintain it in proper condition, and about all the work that is necessary at this time. When planning a work plan for yourself, you should rely on climatic conditions your region.

Often, the second half of December for many people is spent preparing for the New Year holidays, but the first half of the month can be safely devoted to work in the country.

Finishing cleaning

In the southern regions, harvesting of winter types of vegetables is completed in December: parsnips, lettuce, spinach, green and Brussels sprouts, broccoli, leeks.

Snow retention

Usually the first snow falls in December and from that moment work begins to stop it. To do this, fences are built in the required places in the garden from scrap materials.

Frost protection

If there is no snow or there is little snow, then you should cover perennial and winter crops with leaves, sawdust or pine needles.

As mentioned above, all work must be carried out in accordance with local climatic conditions.

Planting seedlings

So, for example, in the south of Russia in December you can plant seedlings of trees and shrubs, prepare the soil for a vegetable garden, do various winter plantings and much more.

Pre-winter sowing

In December, weather permitting, you can start planting winter garlic and onions, winter sowing of carrots, celery, parsnips, parsley, dill, as well as sowing of flower plants.

Bird protection

All these plantings and crops need protection from birds, which find food in these beds when there is no snow.

Rodent control

Perennial vegetable crops are exposed to rodent attacks in winter, so in December (while there is no snow) poisoned baits can be placed in and around the holes.

Fighting mole crickets

December good time For. They love to spend the winter in warm manure, so you should set up traps for them in the garden. Traps are small but deep holes. They are filled with manure, and when good frosts arrive, it is scattered throughout the garden in a thin layer along with the mole crickets that have accumulated there. Frost will destroy them.

Preparation of soil mixtures

In December, you can stock up on various components of soil mixtures (peat, sand, sawdust, compost, soil, etc.). This is beneficial since their prices are low at this time.

Seedlings

In addition, in December you can start purchasing seedlings and cuttings (if there are conditions for storing them).

Disinfection

December is an excellent time to repair the disinfection of greenhouses and greenhouses, which are used in the middle of winter for growing herbs and early vegetables.

Repair

In addition to greenhouses, greenhouse frames need repair. All garden equipment needs a preventive inspection, and if necessary, repair.

Procurement of seeds

At this time, you can calmly, without haste, purchase the necessary seeds for your vegetable garden.

Checking vegetables

In December, they begin to check potatoes stored for storage and other vegetables.

Insulation

If this is necessary, then measures must be taken to insulate the storage.

Trimming

Winter work in the garden requires mandatory pruning of fruit trees. ornamental trees and shrubs, since spring pruning has an adverse effect on their flowering, because many plants bloom on last year’s shoots.

Therefore, if you did not prune immediately after flowering, then do it at least in December. In addition, in December you can dream and make a plan for placing vegetables in the garden and flowers in the garden for next year.

January

Repair

In January, you can continue repairing greenhouse frames and gardening equipment, as well as knitting straw mats.

Manure storage

You can start collecting manure and garbage for building warm greenhouses, for insulated and open ground.

Checking vegetables

In January, as in December, they continue to check the safety of vegetables stored for storage, vegetable seeds, seed potatoes. If rotten tubers or root crops are found, they should be removed immediately.

If there is a shortage of seed potatoes, then you need to prepare the tops of potato tubers.

Checking perennials

In addition to vegetables, tubers and rhizomes of perennials such as gladioli, dahlias, cannas, begonias, chrysanthemums, non-winter-hardy roses and hydrangeas need attention. It is necessary to monitor the humidity and temperature in the room where they are stored (so that they do not rot or dry out).

Sowing annuals

January is a good time to sow seeds of annuals (petunias, carnations, lobelias, etc.). By May you can get well-developed and flowering plants, which are ready for planting immediately in open ground.

Ash storage

Winter time is convenient for storing ash, bird droppings and other fertilizers of local origin.

Seeds

At the same time, you can purchase flower and vegetable seeds without haste, and clear away any debris that you grew in your dacha. And, of course, you can safely check the germination of seeds.

Growing greens

In January, you can start growing onions in your windows, as well as beetroot and parsley.

Vernalization

If you live in the south, then it’s time to start vernalizing early and cauliflower seeds.

February

Chemistry and fertilizers

In February you can already take care of mineral fertilizers and pesticides to combat diseases and various pests of vegetable and horticultural crops. In parallel with this, the renovation of greenhouses and greenhouses continues.

Preserving the testes

Throughout the winter, great attention should be paid to the seeds of carrots, beets, cabbage and others. vegetable crops. It is necessary to monitor their safety and promptly remove spoiled copies.

Warming up biofuel

In February it is already possible to begin work on heating biological fuel and removing organic fertilizers to the garden.

Making pots

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to make peat and humus pots and nutrient cubes.

Vernalization

In the south of Russia in February, potato tubers (to grow early potatoes), carrot and onion seeds begin to be vernalized.

Sowing seedlings

You can already sow seeds of early cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants for seedlings in a greenhouse or in seed boxes, sow radishes and plant onions. And of course, continue everything that was started and not done at the dacha and in the garden in previous months.

In general, February forces everyone to live in anticipation of the arrival of spring and new pleasant spring chores at their summer cottage. It forces you to shake off the winter torpor and actively engage in familiar and pleasant gardening chores.

The winter months are the idleest in terms of gardening chores. There is no need to water, fertilize, dig, etc. - the garden sleeps in winter. And the only thing that remains for us is not to disturb its peace and protect green spaces from severe frosts and rodents.

December - January

First, I would like to remind you of our smaller brothers – the birds. With the onset of winter, a difficult, “hungry” period begins for them. Build bird feeders and hang them in trees or other suitable places.

By doing this you will not only save them from starvation, but also accustom them to your area. And when it gets warmer, they will serve you well by eating insects, including plant pests.

Trees and shrubs

Let's start with pests. Inspect the branches of the trees carefully - in the forks and near the buds there could be cobweb cocoons of leaves in which pests overwinter. They need to be removed.
The next pests are not so easy to find and eliminate - these are rodents. In winter, they can gnaw the roots and eat around the bark at the base of the trunks, leaving marks in the form of “ringing”.

To protect the trunks from rodents before the onset of persistent frosts, they make a strapping of matting or burlap at their base and tightly cover the top with roofing felt. The lower edge of the roofing felt is sprinkled with earth or spruce branches are placed on top with the needles down. Young seedlings are protected from rodents with a plastic mesh.

It is also necessary to cover trees and shrubs with snow to protect their roots from severe frosts. Throw away all the snow that will collect after clearing the paths and paths near the trunks.
But don't leave it like that. Snow lying around bushes and on tree trunk circles trees need to be trampled down. Trample down the snow after each snowfall. This is another one effective remedy from rodents. Under such snow, mice will not be able to dig tunnels for themselves and get close to the trunks.

After prolonged snowfalls, branches of bushes and trees should be shaken off snow, because... under its weight they may break.

Flower beds

Winter care for flower beds is practically no different from caring for trees and shrubs. Wintering roses, bulbs, and perennials also need to be covered with snow. And the thicker the layer of snow, the warmer it is for them.

As for rodents, they love not only the bark of young trees and branches of bushes. They do not disdain flower crops either. For example, the common vole and water rat damage the root collars of roses and the rhizomes of irises. To protect wintering plants, it is also recommended to trample snow between the ridges and around flower beds.

Lawn

Caring for a garden in winter also includes caring for the lawn, although many people forget about this. Lawn care is not complicated, the most important rule is to reduce the load, i.e. It is advisable not to walk on it. When there is no load lawn grass They tolerate low temperatures and other unfavorable natural conditions well.

If in winter the lawn is exposed to intensive loads, then in the spring you cannot avoid the appearance of bald spots. And this entails subsequent repairs to the lawn, because... natural recovery may take a long time.

The only exception, when you don’t have to be afraid to step on the lawn, is a thick snow cover at least 20 cm high. Then you can play on it with children, and even go skiing.

Sometimes in the middle of winter there are short-term thaws, after which the surface of the snow cover is covered with an ice crust. This crust impedes the air exchange of grasses wintering under the snow, so it must be destroyed with a rake or some other method.

February

Winter is already waning, although there are still heavy snowfalls and frosts in February. This month, they continue to carry out the care activities that began in December-January, but as the weather gets warmer, new tasks appear.

Trees and shrubs

In February, the sun begins to heat up more strongly and the sun's rays, reflected from the snow-white surface, can cause burns to the bark of trees.

In addition, the difference between the daily (under straight lines) increases sun rays) and night temperature, subsequently frost cracks may appear on the bark. They often become hotbeds of infection, so to prevent the appearance of frost holes, during thaw days you should whiten the bark or simply renew the autumn whitewash.

You should also protect against sunburn conifers, for example, covering them with lutrasil. This is a non-woven synthetic material specifically designed to protect plants from frost and burns.

At the end of February, if the weather is warm enough, it will be possible to free tree trunks from protective materials: strapping, films, roofing felt, roofing felt, etc. If you leave them on for a long time in warm weather, this can lead to overheating of the barrels.

Flower beds

It is advisable to ventilate those plants that you have wintered under cover, for example, roses, kerias, on thaw days so that they do not rot.

February is also a good time for:

If you did not manage to purchase before February planting material, then now is the time, don’t put it off until spring.

Lawn

The same rules apply to lawn care in February as in previous months: protection from stress and timely destruction of the ice crust.

As you can see, winter work in the garden also requires the owner of the site to allocate sufficient time, although the winter months are considered the easiest in this regard.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you of such important tasks as the advance purchase of garden tools and repair of garden equipment. Then, with the onset of the planting season, you will avoid unnecessary fuss and hassle.