Given the dry conditions we’ve had this year, make sure trees and shrubs have adequate water. Continue to water trees and shrubs (if we don’t get enough rain) until the ground freezes. Since temperatures are cooling and plants are using less water, they won’t need to be watered as frequently as in warmer parts of the year, maybe every other week.

Providing adequate moisture to trees and shrubs will help reduce their stress and damage from winter weather. This is especially important for newly planted trees since they are unlikely to have an extensive root system and evergreens.

Evergreens keep their leaves year-round and are more likely to suffer winter desiccation (also known as winter burn). Desiccation is caused when plants lose moisture faster than they can take it up. This will result in discolored and damaged plant leaves and tip dieback. Having well-watered trees and shrubs and adequate soil moisture can go a long way in preventing winter desiccation. Additionally, roots surrounded by moist soil are less likely to suffer cold injury compared to those in dry soils.

Protect from desiccation

In addition to adequate soil moisture, evergreens in exposed sites may benefit from additional protection to prevent winter desiccation. These plants can be wrapped loosely in burlap, or a windbreak can be constructed.

Anti-transpirants are commonly recommended to help prevent desiccation in evergreen plants. These products are wax-like materials sprayed onto plants’ leaves to slow water loss.

Before applying a product, make sure to read the label. Some products should only be used on broadleaf and needled evergreens, not on evergreens with scale-like leaf foliage such as arborvitae.

While anti-transpirants may help a little in preventing winter desiccation, they aren’t a replacement for making sure your plants are well-watered and protected if they are in exposed locations.      

Mulching plants

Mulching trees and shrubs is also beneficial when preparing them for winter. Mulch will help retain soil moisture and help prevent rapid fluctuations in soil temperature.

Organic-based mulches, such as wood chips, are preferred because, in addition to the above benefits, they will also slowly break down and add nutrients to the soil.

When applying mulch, put down a 2- to 4-inch-deep layer, ideally out to the tree’s drip line. Additionally, make sure it is not piled up on the plant’s trunk (mulch should look like a donut, not a volcano). Mulch piled up against a tree trunk creates an ideal environment for diseases, insects, and rodents.

Don’t rush pruning

While cleaning up the garden, there is often a temptation to prune trees and shrubs. Don’t be in too big of a hurry, though. Pruning in late summer and fall will often encourage plants to produce new growth.

This new growth won’t have enough time to harden off before winter arrives and will be damaged or killed. The only pruning that should be done on trees and shrubs in the fall is to remove dead or damaged branches. 

Otherwise, wait to do any other pruning, such as removing crossing and rubbing branches, until the trees are fully dormant (winter).

There’s very little that is pretty about a garden in winter, unless it is covered with a blanket of pristine snow. Occasionally, a red cardinal will visit, giving the dreary scene a splash of color and a faint promise of spring. There’s also a rabbit that lives under the storage cottage and shows up at the kitchen door, as if to ask “What’s for lunch?”

Winter days however are a perfect time to begin planning ahead for the garden scene you hope to create when spring arrives. You have probably already perused the spring garden catalogs, giving you new ideas about the trees, flowers, or vegetables you hope to plant.

So, what can you do now to get the best results for your spring and summer garden?

Soil preparation is your first step toward having a successful show in your garden. That involves using natural ingredients and adding organic fertilizers. You may also want to shake up the earth with some tilling. This is also the time to plant bigger trees and shade plants. March is the perfect time to plant pansies. Mid to late April is the prime time to plant all other spring flowers.

If you are planning a vegetable garden, it’s crucial to have your soil tested. Veggie gardens thrive when the soil is mixed with mulch or mushroom compost. The County Extension office will test your soil, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension staff.

Another tip from the Extension Service is to map out your garden on graph paper before you start planting and remember to allow space for your plants to grow. Tulsa’s Southwood Nursery garden staff also suggests “Keep your garden simple, if you’re a novice gardener. Start small to avoid garden frustration.”

On a field trip to the Linnaeus Teaching Garden in Tulsa, our tour guide suggested: “Consider the size of garden appropriate for you. Gardens require maintenance. Don’t over-crowd. Space plants properly. Over time, this leads to excessive pruning and poor plant performance.”

Other tips included:

• Plan for all four seasons when choosing garden plants.

• Consider using native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, which thrive in hot weather.

• Pay attention to the garden’s traffic paths.

• Finally, enhance your garden with visual attractions — fountains, garden art, decorative pots or urns.

Micki J. Shelton is a Muskogee native and master gardener.