Time for a winter walk-about: Tour your landscape to see how plants fared in recent rough weather

The last few weeks have certainly been disruptive in the Heartland. Traffic and commerce have been hampered by ice and snow, schools have been closed, events have been canceled, and weather forecasters have been working overtime.

All of the weather conditions we have been experiencing have caused concern about possible traffic accidents, falling on ice at home or work, frostbite and frozen water pipes. Gardeners have also been expressing concern that their favorite landscape plants may be suffering from these extreme weather conditions.

The United States Department of Agriculture has produced a Hardiness Zone Map for all of the United States. The Heartland is in Zone 6, where the lowest temperatures reach -10 F to 0 F on average.

The key term is "average." Sometimes our temperature goes below that average. So the Heartland may be in Zone 5 where the temperatures dip below -10 F.

Nursery plants are classified as to the coldest Hardiness Zone that they can tolerate without damage or death. When you go to a nursery to purchase plants the tag should have a Hardiness Zone number, which will tell you whether the plant will tolerate the conditions in geographical area you are going to plant it.

One problem with the USDA Hardiness Zone Map is that the lowest temperatures indicated usually fall in December, January and February. There are occasions on record when we get a major drop in temperatures later in the spring, causing plant damage, although the temperature drop does not reach the lowest number in Hardiness Zone. With the Heartland in Zone 6, we usually plant Zone 6 plants. But with an abnormal winter or spring, we may experience Zone 5 conditions. This might result in damage to Zone 6 plants.

So what is a gardener to do at this time of the year? My suggestion is, first of all, inspect your landscape plants in late winter or early spring on at least a biweekly basis. If you see damaged plant parts, prune them out with the idea of keeping the plant in the appropriate shape.

If you see a plant that has a lot of damage, do not be too hasty with major pruning or removal. In most cases, damaged plants will "come out of it" once spring sets in and the plant begins its spring flush of growth. Most plants grown in Heartland landscapes fit this category.

On the other hand, if you have crapemyrtle in your landscape and find that they are not putting on a flush of growth this spring, be very patient. Wait until the Fourth of July before you decide whether they are going to make it or not. If they don't come out after that, then go ahead and replace them.

Whether or not you see damage to landscape plants, I would suggest that you fertilize them this spring. Fertilization will give them the nutrients they need to outgrow any damage that may or may not be visible.

Most trees and shrubs should be fertilized in March or early April with a fertilizer similar to a 19-8-10. This balance of NPK is what is needed to encourage leaf and shoot development while having nitrogen sources that help maintain a slightly acidic soil, quite common in our area.

If you are fertilizing azaleas and rhododendrons, use a fertilizer similar to a 9-15-13. Apply this fertilizer after bloom fall. This combination of nutrients will encourage some leaf and stem growth, while encouraging bloom set for next year. The nitrogen sources will also help maintain a very acidic nature in the soil.

If you have roses in your landscape use a fertilizer such as 14-12-11. This will encourage a balanced growth of shoots, leaves and flowers so your rose will bloom its heart out all season long.

Azaleas and roses suffer from insect infestations quite often in the Heartland. So be sure that the fertilizer you use will also contain a systemic insecticide that will eliminate attacking insects.

Now that the weather may be improving, get out in your landscape and take a stroll, enjoy the sunshine, listen to the birds, and see if there is any plant damage in your landscape.