STEVE KAWARATANI:Plan now to weather the Laguna winter

cpt-garden24Text8G215NE6”HERE COMES THE SUN.”GARDEN FANATIC

“Here comes the sun.”

“There’s always a period of curious fear between the first sweet-smelling breeze and the time when the rain comes cracking down.”

“Here comes the sun” declared George Harrison on K-Earth (101.1 FM), and for those of us in Laguna, the sun has mainly replaced the fog and sprinkles. But the wildest months of the season are looming, so what can we do to protect not only our plantings, but perhaps our homes from the anticipated winter storms?

Readying your garden begins with personal observation. Do the trees and shrubs need to be pruned off the house? Is there a possibility that these plants may remove paint and roofing during Santa Ana winds? Is the front wall leaning or are there new cracks in the driveway or walkway? Early detection and simple maintenance can often save costly damage later.

Always start your preventive maintenance with the trees and your tallest shrubs. They are the largest landscape elements and potentially pose the most problems. An improperly pruned (including unpruned) tree is a likely candidate to be damaged during a storm, with the possibility for property damage increasing with tree size. Prune out deadwood, weak or diseased branches, and keep the height of your trees under control to maintain a healthy tree.

Planting beds with foundation shrubs and flowering plants also require attention. Prune carefully to remove damaged or weak stems and branches, dead flower or seed parts, and branches that have overgrown the originally intended space. The plants prefer your artistic pruning to amputation by storm. Don’t be afraid to prune or pinch — the plant will grow back!

Standing water in the garden, originating from low spots, poor grading, or lack of proper drainage, can not only create breeding spots for disease in your garden, but may also find its way into your home. Raise low areas that are collecting water next to your house and in garden areas, and add subsurface drainage to evacuate unwanted water. In severe cases, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified soils engineer or geologist.

Catharine and I are beginning to plan our preparations for the holidays. This will likely include hanging some strands of lights and bringing our star pine indoors. We’ll visit with family and friends, but as the 25th approaches, rather than dreaming of a white Christmas, I’m guessing we’ll kick back at the beach. See you next time.

at (949) 497-2438, or send e-mail to plantman@laguna nursery.com.