Winter in the garden

The ground is frozen and covered with snow as I write this. Snow insulates the soil, protecting it from drying winds, and as it slowly melts, it replenishes soil moisture. This is good for trees and shrubs, as their roots never truly go completely dormant.

Trees and shrubs do need water through the winter, so plan on watering once a month if we don't receive rain or snow. Water on warmer days when the ground can absorb it. This latest storm should keep the ground moist until mid-January.

With the loss of all their leaves, I can now easily see the branching structures of my deciduous trees. Wild water sprouts shooting straight up from the main parts of the tree are all too visible, ruining what should be the beautiful framework of each tree.

Some schools of thought advocate late-winter pruning of fruit trees, while others advocate late-spring-to-summer pruning. Personally, I'm waiting for a sunny day in the high 40s to do some pruning, not because the temperature is better for pruning (which it probably is), but because it's warmer for me!

I'm of the opinion that if I have the time and my tools are sharp, I should prune. Otherwise, it may not get done at all. One note of caution: Pruning deciduous trees while the limbs are frozen requires care to avoid snapping and ripping off limbs, damaging them and exposing them to potential disease.

Evergreens can be pruned any time. In fact, I plan to do enough evergreen pruning now to fill the house with greens and enjoy them through New Year's and beyond.

If you have red berries of hawthorn, pyracantha, mountain ash or even holly, cut a few stems to add holiday color indoors. The red twigs of the dogwood can also add a bright spot to floral arrangements. Euonymus, with its multicolored evergreen leaves, can also be used as a cut green.

Bring boughs and branches into the house, even after the holidays are over. Boughs of juniper, pine (particularly pinyon) and blue spruce will fill a house with woodsy scents. Woody grapevines wound together make terrific wreath frames to which you can add greens.

Pruning doesn't have to be all work. Enjoy the sights and smells of the cuttings by bringing the beauty of the landscape indoors this winter.

For more information, e-mail skellyj@unce.unr.edu or call me at 887-2252. You can "Ask a Master Gardener" by e-mailing mastergardeners@unce.unr.edu or call your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. Check out many useful horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu.

• JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.