2013 #9: Winter "To Do" List

Jan 20/13

Sometime in the next month or so there are lots of things that need to be done in the gardens. Well, not really LOTS, primarily just “pruning”.

It’s too bad I didn’t think about this last week when the temperature hit +13C. Now we are looking at -13C so the pruning will wait! But after next week we are supposed to be going back into the pluses and that will be the time to clean up trees, bushes etc.

• espalier trees: Last year I planted some trees with the goal of training them along my garden fences. Now it is time to do the first pruning on them to create the espalier design.
• fruit trees: my older trees have been left to go full size but my newer trees can be pruned down to a 7’ height and thinned out. On this list is an apple tree and a cherry tree.
• gooseberry bushes: prune, keeping centre open for air flow
• jostaberry or tayberry (one of these): has to go—way too thorny. Horrible to walk by
• raspberries/blackberries: prune out old canes and new shoots that I don’t want, cut canes back
• blueberries
• currant bushes
• elderberries
• boysenberry (more training it than pruning it as the pruning took place last year)
• osage orange (continue to train it to shoot upwards)
• grapes

It is also recommended to spray the fruit trees with a dormant spray to kill overwintering insects.
Advice states: 1) spray when the temperature will be above freezing for at least 24 hours and 2) Dave Wilson’s Nursery says to spray in the middled of winter and then again just when buds start to show a hint of colour.
Info re: dormant spray

Video re: pruning/spraying, from Dave Wilson’s Nursery

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)