Dec. 31--Before you let seed and plant catalogs swirl you away in plans for this spring's garden, first take stock of last year's.
"Think about what the problems were and what you can do to prevent them," says Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Review any notes you kept -- or any other records, such as your postings on social media -- to reconstruct the gardening year and think about new opportunities.
Did the drenching rains of autumn show you places that don't drain well? "Maybe you want to consider some plants that tolerate wet soil for those spots," Yiesla says. It's usually easier to choose plants for wet conditions than to try to change the soil or the grade, she says.
Fungal diseases were common last year, says Yiesla, who edits the Arboretum's Plant Health Care Report during the growing season. You can make it harder for these diseases to thrive in shrubs if you prune them this winter to open them up for better air circulation.
What about insect problems? Some infestations are a warning to change your practices. For example, if you had grubs in the lawn, plan to carefully avoid overwatering this year. Moist soil encourages beetles to lay the eggs that become grubs.
You can keep some insect problems from coming back full force if you get outdoors on a winter's day and "go on a bug hunt," Yiesla says.
For example, remove bagworms from evergreens so the eggs never get a chance to hatch in spring.
Look for the egg masses of gypsy moth caterpillars, which are beige to gray fuzzy patches, like pieces of an old sweater. They may be sticking to tree trunks, lawn furniture, grills, playground equipment or virtually any other surface in the garden. Wearing gloves to protect your hands, use a paint scraper to scrape the masses into a bucket of soapy water rather than letting them fall on the ground. Seal the masses in a plastic zipper bag and dispose of them in the trash.
If you have viburnum shrubs and were worried about the viburnum leaf beetle last year, check for eggs that may be overwintering. The eggs appear as brown bumps crowded together along the ends of young twigs. Snip off the infested twigs and let them soak in soapy water to kill the eggs before putting them in the trash.
While you're outdoors, survey the garden for bare spots you might want to fill in spring. "They're easier to see now that the leaves are gone," Yiesla says. Once the plants start leafing out in spring, she says, "your garden changes very quickly and it's hard to remember where the holes were."
Take some photos of the garden in winter. They'll help you as you plan, but also show you opportunities to create some visual interest in the cold season.
"Is there a place where you could add an evergreen, or some ornamental grasses?" Yiesla says. "Put those on your list with the flowers and vegetables."
Compare your winter photos to shots you took in the spring or summer. Enjoy your proud close-ups of ravishing roses and huge hydrangea blooms, but also check out the backgrounds of your snapshots -- behind the games of catch, the gin-and-tonics, the cookouts, the romping dogs -- to get a broader view of your garden and to help you recall how your family really used the yard. You may see you need another path, or a gate, or some steppingstones in a heavy-traffic area, or some tall grasses for a privacy screen.
Dwelling on the past can help you decide the best places to put your efforts as you plan for the coming spring.
Beth Botts is a staff writer at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle (www.mortonarb.org).
For tree and plant advice, contact the Arboretum's Plant Clinic (630-719-2424 or plantclinic@mortonarb.org).
