Time to enjoy those houseplants

I hate to say it, but Old Man Winter is on its way. The local “snowbirds” will soon be heading south. The rest of us … otherwise known as the “tough old birds” will be doing all manner of prepping for the frigid days and nights.

If you grow roses, be sure to do what you can to keep that grafted area protected. That’s the “bump” where the top of the rose is connected to a hardier rootstock. Just dump a mound of soil on that area. Failing to do so often allows the graft to die and you will never see those same blooms again, only the ugly dark red ones that the rootstock will send up from below the graft.

If you want to save any of those summer blooming bulbs, now is the time to dig them up. Gladiolas are the easiest. Just dig, cut off the old foliage and put the bulbs into a mesh bag of some sort. Store where it will remain above 40 degrees.

Tuberous begonias need to be dug up after the leaves freeze. Shake off as much soil as possible. I use small paper bags half filled with shredded wood, such as the type used in hamster cages. Write the color on the bag, if desired, then put in one bulb and cover with more wood. Store above 40.

Dahlias are the trickiest to get through winter. Wait about a week after the tops freeze. Then dig, clean off as much soil as possible. Bag up the same way as the tuberous begonias. The hard part comes in storage. If the tuber gets too dry, it will shrivel up and croak. If it gets too wet, it will rot. The best preventive is to check on them every month of so through the winter. If too dry, spray with a bit of water. If too wet, leave the bag open for a day or two. If you’ve found a way to successfully keep yours over winter, continue it.

Raspberry canes need to be cut now. Those that bore fruit this summer, will have brown canes. Cut those to the ground as they won’t produce again. Then, cut the green canes to stand about 4 feet tall. Those will produce next summer.

With lawn mowing season over, go ahead and drain the gas from your mower. By the same token, it’s time to gas up the snow blower. Who knows when the first batch of “white stuff” will come sifting down.

If you have any type of water feature in your yard, it’s best to empty those out before the cold weather turns that water into ice. Those little backyard waterfalls are very nice to have in summer, but will often crack in winter, making them useless for holding water. I have one that I’ve turned into a planter … that cracked bottom came in handy. Good drainage.

Keep those bird feeders filled as they will be needed much more over winter than over summer. The plants they feasted on all summer will be dead and often covered with snow.

Any summer yard décor needs to come inside now as most of it is made to be used in warmer weather. While you’re at it, get those lawn sprinklers blown out. You’ll be glad you did, especially when you see a lawn being dug up next spring so sprinkler system can be fixed where parts of it froze up and broke.

As they say, “all good things” must come to an end. Not that our short summer was all that good considering so many 90+ days and smoke-filled skies. Today’s column will be the last one for this year. Hope you have an easy winter.

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Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column has appeared in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October for the past 10 years.