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A Gardener's Notebook: The latest incarnation of my column detailing the trails and tribulations of my garden. Join the list and ask your own questions about gardening Subscribe

While we might have expected to be buffeted by the winds of change this New Year, it appears that we are also being buffeted, sometimes savagely, by the winds of cold fronts as they storm across the globe. In France, winter ice storms and high winds toppled entire forests and here in California, the Santa Ana winds turned Christmas Day into something more suitable for beach wear than long underwear.

The small...

My roses suffered some damage in our strong holiday winds. I am watching for new damage as a cold north wind whips them as I write. Whether hot or cold wind, it grabs at the long stems and breaks them in half. We are at the end of our growing season here and the rose plants are at their largest right now. Long stems reach up 3-4 feet and even now they are topped with large, pink blossoms. Unfortunately, the blossoms catch both rain, which makes them heavier, and the wind. I can see them spiraling around with each gust until the weakened stem finally breaks.

Of course, this is all happening only a week or so before I will prune all the roses back for the winter. I have had the most success with removing all but the strongest canes and bringing the entire plant down to a height of about 12"- 16". There has been some talk in the local papers about not pruning the roses so heavily, but mine would be badly overgrown by the beginning of spring if I pruned lightly. The plants also look a little ratty by this time of the year and a heavy pruning gives them a good structure from which to start new growth.

...and the tall!

It is not just the small plants that suffer from the wind. As I was driving about town today I was amazed at the number of tree limbs, some quite large, that littered the neighborhood. As I watch the winds hit the trees it seems like the alternating gust and release of the wind stresses the trees more than a steady wind of much greater intensity. While the palm trees bend more we have to deal with the large and heavy fronds that take flight every time the wind blows. Some have been known to injure people and damage cars and property.

Whenever you have a limb or entire tree fall in your garden it makes sense to closely inspect it for disease and rot. Often, a fallen limb will point to deeper problems. Also, inspect the scar on the trunk where the limb was attached. Even if there is no sign of deeper problems you will want to watch the area closely to insure that it heals well. These scars are the perfect entry point for diseases and insects. Common thought today is to avoid treating the area with paint or tar. Most of my recent reading indicates that this can actually slow down the healing process it is meant to speed up. If you suspect problems, call in a licensed arborist for a consultation.

As we get closer to spring you will want to watch the roots of your trees. As the soil gets more and more saturated with snow melt or heavy rain some trees can lose their grip in the earth. The additional stress of a high wind or ice weight can easily topple even the largest tree. I lost a eucalyptus tree in this way a few years back. It didn’t come completely down, but was pressing ominously on the electrical wires leading to my house. A utility company crew made quick work of removing it. They are always the people to call whenever any of your trees are close to overhead power lines. There are some garden tasks that are best left to the professionals.

Until next time...Keep digging!

Winter Rose Protection

Garden Pages -Roses

Rose Pruning Tip

Sherry's Greenhouse - Rose Pruning

Easy, Practical Pruning : Techniques for Training Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Roses (Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guides) --Barbara Ellis, Frances Tenenbaum (Editor);