Hello fellow of all things green,
Last week, I shared about the buck rub on Ellie’s memorial holly (link below) and how branches ended up strewn along the base of the tree. While rubbing, deer often chew on lower branches, then paw at the soil and urinate to mark their territory. I saved the branches to decorate the window boxes—keeping them outside, of course, where pee-mail belongs. (That’s right, Jolee. You’re not the only critter who leaves messages.)
Harvesting ‘Road Kill’
The Roadkill Tradition
The buck-rub casualties reminded me of my ongoing holiday habit: decorating with “roadkill”—roadside leave-behinds, that is.
The tradition started years ago when I got busted. My buddy Paulette from Blairstown caught me picking up white pine branches along the road. My philosophy is, if you can’t find all you need in your own digs, there’s nothing wrong with a little roadside cleanup. “Roadkill” is Paulette’s witty term for wintry finds. She even shared another spot where she snagged downed branches. Glad I’m not the only one. But please—no pilfering on others’ properties without permission.
A Scavenger Hunt for Seasonal Greens
It is fun—adding a festive, wintery touch to window boxes and outdoor pots that will carry you through to spring. They’re among my favorite potted gardens to create. It’s like a grown-up scavenger hunt, and the plant material is free. Adding greenery to your inside holiday décor is lovely, too.
Layering with Garden Treasures
White pine branches mixed with spruce, cedar, or hemlock make the perfect first layer for pots or boxes. If you have open wire boxes like mine, you can line them with ornamental grass or loose moss to nestle the branches. It’s not the optimum time for pruning, but I always save a bit so I can tuck in berry-laden holly as the next layer.
Then whatever delights you find in the garden: dried astilbe and hydrangea flowers, ornamental grass plumes, pinecones, and anything else that tickles your fancy. Some add a bit of sparkle with outdoor ornaments that look like the shiny glass balls from Christmases long ago.
A Late-Fall Confession
Which brings me to a confession: I have yet to do the fall cleanup of my gardens. After tending to my clients’ gardens, it’s hard to get to my own—which makes a fine excuse. But truth be told, I always leave a good bit standing because the dried plants provide food and habitat for wildlife. And I love the look of seed heads and dry foliage catching winter’s light.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) seed heads
Ornamental grasses are splendid left standing, their dry silhouettes swaying in the winter winds. Coneflower (echinacea) and black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia) have cute little seed heads. When frosted with snow, they become charming pom-poms in the garden. Astilbe is another favorite. Its feather-like plumes look as beautiful dry as they do in bloom.
If you’d rather not have volunteers—rudbeckia is nicknamed “Rude Becky” for a reason—toss seed heads where feathered friends can feast, or gather and share them with your two-footed friends.
Late-Fall Garden To-Dos:
Deep Watering Before Freeze
As you go about tidying the garden (I will soon, promise, and use the goodies in my window boxes), take notes on plants to divide or move and spots to enhance come spring. Deeply water your plants before the ground freezes, and continue watering during winter warm spells if Mother Nature doesn’t oblige.
Protecting Evergreens from Winter Wind
Another late-fall task is applying Wilt-Pruf or another anti-transpirant on evergreens—especially broadleaf ones like rhododendrons and boxwood—to prevent winter wind damage. The ideal time is late fall or early winter when temperatures are between 40 and 50 degrees. Snow came early this year, so I’ll wait for it to melt and the foliage to dry before spraying both sides of the leaves.
Deer Defense for Cold Months
Once that dries, follow with a systemic deer repellent such as Deer Out—a double whammy of protection. Or you can create physical windbreaks with stakes and burlap to keep deer at bay.
A Sniff of Wisdom…
Getting back to those roadside finds—yesterday, Jolee kept sniffing the gathered white pine branches as we walked home. It dawned on me that perhaps another canine had marked them. Note to self: roadkill, like casualties from buck rub, may be best used only as outdoor decorations.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com and your favorite Podcast App.
Enjoy more of the story in the Garden Dilemmas Podcast:
Related Posts and Podcasts:
Hope Unfolds in Holly’s Renewal about the buck rub on Ellie’s memorial holly.
Holiday Decorating Reflections
Ep 86. The Revival of an American Holly
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