It seems a long time til April but the Tree guys will be here in January to remove 3 trees. I will replace with a clump of Eastern RedBuds . They will come back in April to plant a 10 footer.

So nice to see a spring thread! We planted a Redbud and it's doing fine but I was told to be sure to get one that didn't sucker. Mine hasn't...yet. It's worth asking questions and looking online before you buy.

I've been cleaning, digging dahlias and mulching a lot. It feels good to feel as though I'm ahead of the game.

Is anyone else making spring plans ?

Jo Anne sounds like a good plan. I have not started to make any plans yet. I start my winter dreams after the holidays and everything calms down.

I spend the winter cleaning the house and getting inside work done so I can spend my time outside without feeling to guilty.

Me, too, Cinta. Isn't that why we have winter - to clean house so we don't have it on our minds from April through December?

Jo Ann - I mentioned the suckers so you could investigate exactly which Redbuds do not sucker. Here you can see the stump from a Bradford Pear, which was cut down (later ground out) but the suckers remained so we called the company and they did return the next day to remove all the suckers. It's a major problem I didn't ever want to face again. They can't just be cut but have to either be unearthed or ripped from the roots - not a job I ever want to tackle.





Here's a photo from the ATP files, of 'Forest Pansy', a Redbud with very dark leaves that is very attractive. Check hardiness and suckering.

My tree guy said Forrest Pansy isnt reliable here. Bradford Pears in this neighborhood have rotted and fallen apart after 10 or 16 years.

Our Bradford Pear came down in the storm, Sandy, but those suckers lived on just to annoy us.

I'm merely suggesting you investigate all possible Redbuds hardy in your area that do not sucker to cause you grief.

I still have not had two large viburnum removed. It has been on the to do list for three years! I sure hope next spring is it!

Jen - if you're having them removed by someone other than your husband, give them a call now. Most of these very hard workers appreciate any work they can get in December and the energy they use in removing the shrubs will keep them warm.

Nope, it is just us doing the labor! UGH.

EEK! How about a portable heater and a tent to cover you while you work?

Maybe a very powerful chain and a strong truck? I loved when one guy did it that way for a field of ugly, old shrubs we had when we moved in here.

We'll do them in the spring when the ground is good and soft.

Oh, I have had so many plans for the cooler weather of fall, winter and spring. So far, all plans seem to keep getting totally messed up by the weather.

After a three year drought, the rains came early in late September and it has continued to rain several days a week through all of October, November and, now, December. The soil has been, and continues to be, totally saturated, so I couldn't plant or divide my bulbs ... one plan on hold.

With almost constant rain, all of the material I usually glean for my winter mulch is sopping wet, so I didn't get the garden mulched in fall. Another plan on hold.

Again, the weather got me. We haven't had our normals sub-freezing night temps to freeze the weeds that would be inhibited weed growth during this season. The weeds have been jumping out of the ground because they are finally getting moisture. This week, I've been out there weeding between rain sessions. They were smothering some of the roses. There goes my plan to do housework during winter.

I guess this is not the year for planning, but a time to take it one day at a time.

Smiles,
Lyn

I have three large trees to take down. Definitely not a DIY job.
Lyn, hope you have some rain barrels to save some of that rain water.

Mike ...

No I don't have rain barrels. I live in a county-of-origin for water in California. Historically, we get an average of about 35 inches of rain during the rainy season. I never have any run off and I want the water to go down to the deep layers of the soil. It makes the water I apply to the surface of the garden during the dry months more efficient.

In my case, rain barrels would be a detriment rather than a benefit.

Smiles,
Lyn

My plans for next season are to continue removing "lawn",
and replacing it with either flower or vege beds.
I also want to reroof my north back porch with translucent vinyl,
and then would grow begonias back there. And other shade plants.
One bed in front of house (sunny south side) will be prepared for planting peonies next fall.
And of course there is pruning of shrubs etc. to be done.

Sounds like you will be busy for an entire season.

Jo Ann, that was funny. We are all busy in our own way in the garden. It seem like there is always something to do or rearrange.

Yes, gardening keeps us busy.
I am always more ambitious over the winter than I am able to carry out in reality.
But that does not matter:...... as gardening is process more than product to me.