Cold weather lawn and garden tips from Pike Nurseries

Winter is in full swing, and the cold weather presents some special challenges when it comes to your lawn and garden. Melodie McDanal of Pike Nurseries stopped by Good Day Atlanta on Friday with tips to take care of your lawn and garden during the cold weather.

And Pike Nurseries answers a question from Kimberly Bryant: "I have a full grown 9 foot tall Japanese maple tree in my front yard. It is either a red leaf or crimson queen (from what I have been told). I do not have interest in this tree or know how to maintain it. Can I sell this tree? What would be an approximate value for it and how would I go about doing that?"

Answer: Japanese Maples are loved for their fabulous foliage color. Pike Nurseries doesn't buy plants from homeowners; all of our trees and plants come from professional growers that have disease control practices. You would most likely need to find someone willing to pay for the tree removal and transportation cost but this isn't our area of expertise. It sounds like your Japanese maple is very well established in your landscape so it needs very little care. Usually Mother Nature will provide enough water but if we do go through a dry spell a good deep watering once a week would be needed. To keep it lush fertilizer your Japanese maple at the start of spring.

INFORMATION:

In the Garden

• Plant & Transplant
  • Even though its cold outside you can play in the dirt year-round in Atlanta
  • Trees and non-blooming shrubs can be easily planted and transplanted now so that they can develop their root system before the Southern summer heat arrives

• Protect Plants for the Cold
  • If a freeze is expected, make sure that the soil around all outdoor plants has been watered well
  • Plants in containers should be grouped close together on a porch or patio, or moved to a protected area
  • Be sure tender plants, such as pansy beds or emerging bulb foliage, are mulched well with pine straw or bark

• Color in Your Garden
  • Plant pansies, violas, hellebores, camellias, daphne and more for winter garden blooms
    

In the House

• Goodbye Christmas
  • It's time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. You can fill the void with houseplants like we discussed last Friday
• Fill in with Houseplants
  • Foliage and flowering houseplants add some much needed winter color to your indoor space, and they also help clean the air
    

For the Birds

• Feed the Birds
  • Food sources are scarce at this time of year
  • Besides seed, suet cakes will attract many birds and provide the calories they need to maintain their body heat
• Keep Birdbaths Full
  • The birds are counting on you for fresh water, not frozen
  • Add a water wiggler to birdbaths to prevent the water from freezing

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