Okay, don't be envious...afterall I live in southern CA & I am able to plant all year long. I have had 2 doz. native plants that I bought in October and haven't had any time to get them planted. I am putting them in my backyard and yesterday I dug the holes, filled them with water and discovered that a few of them took HOURS to drain. Not good for native plants. Today I am taking my wheel barrel over to the local stream bed (which is dry) and get some sand which I will add into the slow draining holes and then complete my planting. Plus I still need to make and roll some more gopher cages. Another run to the hardware store! Happy New Year everyone!
There have been many winters in north Texas when I could garden year round but this is not one of them. It sounds like a lot of work and don't forget to take pictures to show us the finished project.
I'm curious about what you mean by making and rolling gopher cages -- I'm assuming it is meant to control gophers? Do you make a wire cage to go around your favorite plants to keep them from eating the roots? I've heard about that tip. I remember a while ago people were trading tips (and frustrations) about keeping gophers out of the garden. Good for you getting the garden ... I am missing it quite a lot lately. (sigh).
Oh how I wish I could plant something in my garden at the moment. Spring seems a long way away when you have as much frozen snow around as we do. I hope all your new plants do well for you and that the gophers stay away from them.
Funny you should mention planting...at the moment, we have no snow and no frosts, and I still have a bucket full of tulip bulbs to get in. Now I no it isn't ideal, but I might try and get out into the garden tomorrow for an hour or so and get them in. I do get envious when I hear you warmer climate stewbies planting and enjoying your gardens in bloom year round. I have to be content with my conservatory, but I do long to see those first shoots of spring.
Hi to all of you! Wow, quite a response. Well, I almost finished planting but as I said, I need to make some more gopher cages before I can get done. Yes and chicken wire is involved. I buy a roll of it & measure a lenght of 20" out then cut across the roll in thirds. Next step it to make the "cage", trim the bottom so that it folds in, keeping the base of the rootball enclosed. It takes some time to do this but its worth it. It got a bit windy here today, which is annoying but it felt good to be outside. And "yes"...I'll have to do some pictures of my latest project. Later I'll post some of my Christmas Day hike in the Big Horn Sheep Preserve just outside of Palm Springs. The desert was awesome & beautiful! :-D
*lalllalaaaaalalaaa* *both index fingers in the ears and hollering* I'm not hearing this! I've got 20 cm of snow on the ground and it's cold! But no, I'm not envious really. We need our winter for our plants to look good in spring. And spring is only two-three months away. Good luck with your planting, and please show the finished result.
