Counting the Days ‘Til Spring!
Wow...that was a lot of snow last week! We’re only a short stretch into our first real taste of winter and I’m already checking the calendar to see how much longer we’ve got until spring.
I’m impatient.
I also like being outside and doing things besides shoveling snow! But it looks like we’re all going to be forced out of the garden for a while now. No surprise there, given the time of the year, but that doesn’t mean I like it. The reality is, it’s going to be pretty quiet for all of us out in our gardens for a while. Well, things are pretty quiet out here at the store right now too.
It can get kind of lonely out here during the winter!
And so it’s a good time to remind everyone that we’re still open for business throughout the winter,. So if you need something we could help with, keep us in mind. We are keeping ourselves busy with off-season projects but we all look forward to getting a chance to break away from those and talk with real live customers.
Our current hours are 9-5, Mon-Sat, closed on Sundays. We’ll remain closed on Sundays until spring weather starts to push its way in, usually sometime around the first part of March. Like I said, if you need something, come see us. You probably won’t have any trouble finding a parking spot very close to the front door!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Likewise, if you need to escape cabin fever over the upcoming days and weeks ahead of us, keep in mind we now have a nice big greenhouse to enjoy! It’s full of all kinds of houseplants, tropicals, cacti, and succulents along with fountains, pots, and other odds and ends. We’re all enjoying having the new space to work with and also are finding a quick walk through it to be a nice break in our day... especially since all the snow and ice have arrived. I bet you’d find the same.
Another reminder...
If you like keeping updated on what’s going on out here, keep in mind you can find us on both Facebook and Instagram. We post pretty regularly, so chances are if you follow us there, you’ll know about fresh shipments, product specials, and promotional events before everyone else. Those updates will certainly come in handy as spring arrivals start to roll in and get stocked! Get the first pick of your favorite plants! It’s also a great way to get a good deal on inventory that we would like to clear to make room for the next season.
Enjoy the winter snow and remember, if you need something, stop by or give us a call!
—Cameron Rees
SEE YOU AT THE SHOW!
Mark Your Calendars for the 2025 Kansas Lawn & Garden Show! Join us February 6-8 to beat the winter blahs in the warmth of the Stormont-Vail Event Center in Topeka, KS, and get inspired for the coming spring! We’ll be there with product and design ideas, lawn and garden advice, seasonal tips, and more... come see us!
Snow Damage to Your Landscape Plants
Weather is always the biggest enemy to our gardens.
Throughout the year we deal with excesses... excesses in wind, heat, cold, rain, and drought. Now, we can add the latest to that list, snow and ice.
Although it might seem logical to be worried about plants buried in snow, don’t. Snow cover actually is a good thing. It acts like mulch, protecting everything underneath it from the frigid air temperatures. It’s a good thing during cold weather, and in fact, I’ll pile it generously on top of tender plants like crape myrtles and bigleaf hydrangeas, when I can, to provide extra winter protection.
But for some plants in our landscapes, the snow and ice can lead to problems.
The weight of snow and ice building up on plants can be too much. Heavy loads can break, bend over stems, or even cause shifting in the ground.
Evergreen plants are especially vulnerable. The extra surface area evergreen foliage provides means proportionally more weight build-up when we have freezing rain and/or snow. Too much and plant damage occurs.
If you are one of the unlucky ones and have some plant damage from this past storm, what should you do?
My first advice is to not panic. Chances are pretty good the damage looks worse than it really is.
Secondly, don’t rush into any kind of corrective action. Cutting branches or trying to straighten things back up while the snow/ice is still there or while it’s cold out could end up doing even more damage. Take your time.
About the only thing I might suggest doing in the short term is gently knocking or blowing loose snow off of bent-over branches/trunks. That may remove enough weight to allow things to return to a normal position...but maybe not. Often, once things are bent badly out of shape, they just don’t return to where they were before.
Eventually, pruning and/or staking may be required. Wait for all the snow and ice to be melting off the plant you are working on. Also, wait for a warm day...like a day above 40 degrees...and then go at it slowly. Remember, it’s easy to cut branches off...it’s REALLY hard to put them back on!
If the recent winter storms have left you with some plant issues to deal with and you need a little help figuring out what to do, take some pictures and bring them on by the garden center You can also send them to us by email at info@skinnergardenstore.com. We’ll try to help!
—Cameron Rees
EVENTS, SALES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Keep scrolling for all the important info and extras you don’t want to miss!
LIMITED-TIME SALE: JUST ADD WATER!
Don’t miss out on a great deal that will become a focal point of your spring landscaping! Select fountains are on sale now. Inquire with our staff for pricing. Just call, send us a message, or stop by!
WINTER HOURS
We are settling into winter now and with that comes a seasonal change in our store hours.
