Unglamorous gardening jobs for winter

Hey, they aren't sexy jobs, but they are necessary jobs. We're fighting the deer, checking on dahlia tubers and watering some overwintering plants.
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My name is Erin and I love sharing inspiration and information with real-life gardeners. I live and garden in southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5b/6a.
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[@terrivance8750]

Thank you, Erin. 😊

[@someofmyfavoritethings6787]

This video was truly awesome. It gave me lots of things to think about. In my garage I have three cardboard boxes (banker's boxes from Staples [drilled holes on the sides] and cedar chips) of canna lilies, calla lilies, the Toucan Yellow from Proven Winners, etc. Those I bought in 2020 and have performed beautifully each year ever since. I plan to use them as thrillers in large containers come this summer. Because of this video, I am going to check on them tomorrow.The most interesting part was the deer information. I am at wits end with the deer problem here. I do feel sorry for them because the poor creatures are just looking for food. I just do not want my garden to be their main menu. Not long ago, It was 1:30-ish in the afternoon, and four of them were lounging under one the leyland cypresses in my backyard. I was amazed, and filmed them. I love seen the bucks, though. They look majestic. Last summer I installed those yard enhancer thingies; and they were phenomenal. I recorded quite a few deer jumping away scared out of their mind, fleeing from the sprinklers...the poor things. Anyway, I hope that you somehow come across this post, and can tell me how many times a season I should apply that $30 bag of deer repellant. I am absolutely ordering those. If you say that it works, that's the only confirmation I need. Thank you for all the information you provide.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@someofmyfavoritethings6787 The package says it last for 30 days. I feel like that is the best case scenario.

[@someofmyfavoritethings6787]

@@TheImpatientGardener Thank you!! I will get a few bags of that product, and apply it every 30 days, then. One of the comments here mentioned using milorganite (?). I am not familiar with this product. The first time I heard about that product was quite a few years ago from MIgardener. I saw once a few bags at a local ACE store, and that was it. I will look into that, as well. Again, thank you! I will keep on following your posts; always enjoyable.🙏

[@limitlessends]

I love that you use your winter chores as a way to harness your gardening energy and stop you from starting seeds too early to maybe buying too many plants 😆

[@jennypatterson6660]

My favorite part of this video is your seed starting organization board, I am struggling with how to plan and organize my seed starting this year. I see you have verbena on your list, I have tried starting it 2 years in a row, with NO germination. But last year I put the tray outside in a shady spot, and they started growing! So this year I am going to winter sow them and see how that works. I would love to see your spreadsheet and what you track on it. I do have my own, but it's always nice to see how someone else does it.

[@GardenInspiredLiving]

Hi Jenny, do you mean verbena bonariensis? I’m trying to grow it for the first time this year, and I am wondering if I should try winter sowing instead of seed starting indoors under lights…

[@jennypatterson6660]

@@GardenInspiredLiving Yes thats the one I was trying. I had good luck direct sowing the first year, then the next two I tried starting indoors early with no luck. Until I put the tray outside! Although when outside they were really late.

[@GardenInspiredLiving]

@@jennypatterson6660 Thank you so much! I think I’ll winter sow them or put them outside as soon as they pop up! I did that for sweet peas following Danielle’s advice from Northlawn Flower and they grew like crazy!

[@SusanMathews-gu7jd]

That verbena reseeds freely in my zone 6a garden 20 miles up the road from Erin. I bought a couple of plants 20 years ago and every spring new plants appear with no assist from. I think that winter sowing would be fine. If you have a lot of seed, just sprinkle some where you want them to grow. Mine even grow in the cracks of the sidewalk.

[@GardenInspiredLiving]

@@SusanMathews-gu7jd awesome thank you for the tip! I’m in Zone 6b in WV, I will try all the ways if I have to to grow it because I just love the look!

[@jessicarios3242]

You look amazing!!!

[@lindamdees]

She sure does.

[@sueprovostwilliams3824]

I’ve noticed too. Looking great. And you’re so organized!

[@pamelafrydman4429]

Oooo! I too love your seed organizing for this season sowing! Could you please share where you got the little pockets? And how you create a spreadsheet please! 🙏🏻 Thank you!

[@mabelgoddard5813]

Erin you look great! I’m a dahlia fan. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these beautiful plant❤❤

[@rickvuyst]

Always deer damage here too! With all the money I was putting into repellants I justified in my mind the cost of fencing. I have now built a deer compound protecting a section of my yard. Fencing is so expensive! Great video thank you very mulch!

[@barbaramccann7944]

I’ve only used “Professional” Deer scram, have found it effective using about one 5 gallon bucket per year, in my north west Michigan gardens.

[@jillsimpson8716]

Thank you Erin! You hit the nail on the head at the end when you mentioned itching to get seeds started. Appreciate your advice as always!

[@backyardrailroader]

Good Thursday evening from Delaware. Thank you for these video updates. Sometimes it gives me ideas... This area had three weeks of very cold temperatures. Now it is back to reasonable temperatures and weather ( spin thecwheel.of weather, that is what we getm). I am working on reorganizing my garden, which means the EXPANSION of the garden. I found out what I like last year and am rearranging the plants, which includes a good-sized area for the Dahlias. A medium-sized garden..28x21 foot.

[@shirleybrown8094]

I have best luck with Deer Stopper, thanks to you to find this product. The deer have stripped my picky holly bush this winter...ugh! I live in the city, but my neighbors feed them, so I'm doomed.

[@kathysteele7669]

I love the flowers and so glad that I can leave them in the ground.

[@dylan8285]

I would be choosing the permanent deer repellent option stocking the freezer during bow hunting season( since your in a neighborhood )

[@j.m.7056]

Perhaps check the Deer Scram MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for each product. Might give some useful information.

[@WiscoGarden]

It’s so hard to resist the urge to start all the seeds in January! Ways I distract myself: just started my snaps this week. 😬 I just like having them a lil bigger when they go out. I plant them out when it’s still pretty chilly and I think I get stronger stems that way. I also start geraniums this week because I like them a little bigger to go outside and they’re not fussy plants to care for. Oh, and winter sowing and taking rosemary and scented geranium cuttings- great distractions! 😂

[@susankilpatrick2918]

I just went down to check my dahlia tubers in the cold cellar- all is good! Thanks for the reminder! Thinking about organizing my seed starting dates.

[@upnorth21]

Hopefully we will get to see your seed starting adventures again. I agree about organizing seeds by dates. It's very helpful!

[@Angel-wolfe]

Love your seed starting set up! I just started a few coleus and a few dark leaf basil seeds. I’m early but, I think after being dumped on with feet of snow and then getting hit with -0 temperatures I needed to feel some dirt! 😂

[@GlendaPeters-k3k]

Try applying milorganite to keep deer away. It's cheaper (about $20 for a 50# bag). My husband spread it over the whole yard last year and it worked. I had previously been using Repels All which had to be re-applied. Milorganite also fertilizes the grass.

[@GMLGardener]

Works for rabbits too!

[@danielallen138]

I local gardener I spoke with last season said that applying milorganite around the perimeter of the property, 6-8' wide, works really well for her.

[@marycalardo7217]

I live on 8 acres I been using Milorgante for 15 years now toss it everywhere great for plants, grass, deer, and rabbits hate it. Mary

[@GardenDiscovery]

Epic Repellent people are great. I use their Gopher Scram product here in California and did a few videos on it. We all have some kind of critter pressure-Good luck.

[@mollypitcher9380]

OHHHH! I thought a shriveling tubers could not be salvaged THANKS!!!!!

[@desireehouse]

Excellent advice all the way around.

[@jeannequick9551]

I live in Black River Falls WI and I have used Milorganite for a deer repellent. I read somewhere that it works ( I wish I could remember where I read that). I have used it for a few years at two yard maintanence jobs I have and I haven't had near the deer problems I once had. I use it all over in the spring and then after that I just go around the perimeter about once a month. It is so much cheaper to use. I also use liquid fence on my pots. Have you ever heard that it works?

[@cgilly1858]

Consider getting on of those super bright LED 5 panel screw in lights for that storage area. It makes a huge difference in our garage and crawl space. Also, maybe hanging some shelves from your rafters over your sumps on that back wall might help utilize your available space. Plus, they’d be easily removed should you have an issue in there. Just a thought!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@cgilly1858 Good thinking on the shelves

[@nadiamarkovic1083]

Thank you for sharing this video!

[@katiechaney153]

Hi Erin, do you do winter sowing for seed starting?

[@patsyden6276]

Great video as always. You have reminded me that I need to do the same with my dalihas. Thank you again

[@GardenInspiredLiving]

Hi Erin! I don’t recognize the seed packaging companies that you showed us…do you have some secret seed suppliers that we might need to know about?? 😅

[@hobbitlady7568]

Just love your videos. Thanks for making them!

[@danielallen138]

Probably late in the game, but maybe could be implemented in certain areas? I have read that a double hedge can be a quite effective barrier, because deer have a problem judging both height and depth at the same time. If the deer follow a certain path, which they typically do, some strategically-placed hedges might help redirect them.

[@emmalavenham]

I would consider a monthly subscription from a company like Oh Deer to manage the deer.. The repellant is switched up monthly and for you it is one less thing to do

[@taylorswf23]

Erin, today I caught deer closer to my house than I ever have. As deer repellents go, how effective do you think my method of sneaking outside in my houseshoes and flailing like a wild woman will be at keeping them away? 😂😂 the two deer ran away so fast today, but will they remember their terror for next time they want to nibble my azaleas?

[@someofmyfavoritethings6787]

LOL!!! I did that a couple of years ago...run down the hill, waving arms up in the air, shouting at them to get out of there. They just propped up their heads and looked at me like saying: "What's up with this guy?" 😳...And, yes, they will come back.😩

[@fransak2723]

Is deer scram safe for the pups? We installed a six foot deer fence on our last property. They leaped right over it without a care in the world. Could you pot up the tubers that are marginal and hope for the best? I wonder if Mr. Much more patient would build you a little dolly on wheels for your dahlia stack. It would make it much easier for you to wheel out the whole stack. Harbor freight sells them too.

[@danielallen138]

I have read that deer fencing needs to be 8', minimum.

[@bobr9895]

I weigh the cost of deer repellent against how much the plants they eat cost.😊

[@tresawilkins7159]

."Cattle guards" can be effective.... or not. Sometimes a smarty pants figures it out and then they teach their compadres. And deer can spring much farther and higher than most cattle. Good luck with your deer repelling efforts.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@tresawilkins7159 Thank you for helping me with the right term! And good to know about the deer. I can totally see that happening.

[@naturegirl7777]

...I mumbled out loud that deer would just sprint over cattle grates -- it's a good idea, but deer are clever... 😵‍💫🦌🤷🏼‍♀️ 👩🏼‍🌾💚 =^..^=

[@susanducey5142]

Hi Erin great info as always! Which sprayer are you using for water in this video?

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Love your "temporary" seed organizer. Otherwise the long term organizer is just a pain to revisit.

[@kristooley4112]

Maybe they are professional deer :)

[@rickyt3961]

thank you, Erin for your gardening tips. 🪴

[@scallywags12]

I have a deer fence and best investment!

[@LoisMaudson]

Enjoyed the video ( u k )

[@dustyflats3832]

Deer-we have to fence our gardens and landscaping. If they don’t eat it the bucks rub it out of existence. Every year they take out young trees. We use 7’ wire fencing. I’ve seen them clear that height at a stand still at neighbors. So far we’ve kept them out. Some use electric fence around another fence. We have thought of it as we have bought enough fencing and it is confining to garden in such a spot, but the aesthetics is another bummer. Thought of sectioning an area around the house and leave the veg gardens in place. Then there are rabbits and now new threat-voles 😠. Dahlias/bulbs-I’m debating if I want to keep digging bulbs although I do enjoy those fall colors. I don’t wash them, just dry them before loosely storing them covered with old rug in outside root cellar. The plastic bag I think is causing the moldy issue as they need to breathe. We had to add a chicken lamp to cellar during that cold snap and it generally holds 36F and no problem with humidity as it can be a bit high. It’s the only cool place I have. Z5, WI. This crazy weather a person really has to gamble when to start seeds. This year I think I will use Groundhog Day for alliums and April fool’s day for toms and peps. Brassicas for low tunnel about March 1. It’s handy to use a cheap annual planner to number the weeks backwards from transplant dates and plenty of note space. It’s almost time 🎉

[@dienekeoonk7018]

Thank you for the part about dahlias. Some of the tubers look like potatoes! They are huge! You talked about how you should cut out a huge mother tuber, why would you have to do that?

[@CarolMalcomb-s4u]

Great video. Do you do any winter sowing in milk jugs. I live in zone3/4. Thanks

[@cindiball4915]

When do you start peppers in your area. I keep seeing conflicting advice on that. Thanks

[@josweatt898]

Start before your tomatoes, 8-10 weeks before your last frost.

[@markgolden6265]

Erin, do you get sand fly’s from the lake around you? I know the shore around Lake Erie gets them big time.

[@jack6964]

Deer are a perennial problem for us. We’ve spent hundreds on repellents that really don’t work. And to make it worse, our neighbors on both sides of us feed them so they come to our yard by default.

[@kathyhentschel8104]

Is Deer Scram safe for dogs? I’m kiddish about putting stuff down in my yard- silly dachshunds eat stinky things!🫤

[@lindamurns1245]

Hey!!! I'm curious if anyone has a deturant for squirrels?

[@NinoandLo]

I'm lucky I don't have deer in my small urban garden but I deal with raccoons.

[@melissaluttrell4159]

Have you tried milorganite? I put it around my beds and it works great. I apply twice/year.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@melissaluttrell4159 I have and I’ve found it to be worthless for deer control but good for lawn fertilizing. My theory is that since it’s from right down the road (I.e. The Milwaukee Sewer District) the smell is too familiar to our deer here. 🤣

[@lglglggl]

I stopped applying milorganite last year after reading articles about it containing high levels of pfas.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@lglglggl Yes, that’s a big concern now as well. I wish they would address it in some way but I’ve heard nothing.

[@Aidan-tu4un]

“Cattle Grid” very unobtrusive!

[@lauriedashner2225]

I just don’t have the motivation to get my head in the game for our gardens… ugh…