This National Gardening Association page link is for Over-Winter Maintenance.
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/reminders/2986
Lucille found a good article with information about preventing plant theft from the November 2005 edition of House & Garden Magazine. Download at:
http://west104garden.org/articles/Stop-Garden-Theft.pdf
Some Tips:
Tips from Sergeant Martin Peirson, Metropolitan Police Service, London
- Install low-voltage lights with a photocell switch that automatically illuminates all avenues of access from roads to landscape during hours of darkness.
- Enclose the garden perimeter with a barrier of thorny plant (such as “New Scotland Yard” rose).
- Locate valuable plants out of sight of roads.
- Inhibit digging of valuable trees and shrubs by surrounding them with collars of heavy welded wire fencing.
- Collars (hidden under mulch) should extend out over roots for several feet from plant; for extra security, fasten down collars at edges with hooks or concrete reinforcing bars anchored in concrete.
- South African park police are embedding wild cycads with microchips much like those used for identification of dogs and cats. Such a system could also be effective for the identification and recovery of stolen garden plants.
Also, the Home Depot Garden Center offers a garden club with expert advice and special offers at:
http://homedepotgardenclub.com/
Happy New Year! LM
