Don’t the gardens look beautiful with their blankets of snow? When the sun shines, everything glistens. Snow seems to make everything stand out more vividly. This is a great time to evaluate the “bones” of your garden as everything is more visible: trees, hedges, arbours, pathways. What do you like? What could be changed?

However, after a few days, I begin to wish it would snow somewhere else. Getting around in Victoria when the streets are icy is never easy. I worry about some of my tender plants, so read on for a few tips to protect your garden. And while it’s cold, don’t forget our little friends the birds.

It may be cold outside, but it's warm inside Dig This.  We have something for everyone on your list, whether they are a gardener or not!  Drop by a store near you to see our very affordable stocking stuffers and other gifts.

Elizabeth Cull, Franchise President
 

Some years, Victoria, much of the east coast of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands “miss” winter entirely. It dips to freezing, we see a skiff off snow and then it’s back to the normal “balmy” west coast winter.

But every now and then, we get a taste of real winter with snow, ice and temperatures below freezing for several nights. Here are some tips to help your garden make it through the cold:

• If you have containers, group them together in the shelter of the house. Being together will keep them warmer, and the house itself will reflect and re-radiate any heat gained from the sun.
   
• You can also wrap containers in burlap, bubble wrap, or old blankets to keep the soil from freezing solid.
   
• Snow is a great insulator, so don’t pull the snow away from the base of plants.
   
• Don’t know snow off bushes or trees while it is still cold, or you may risk breaking the branches. However, if you notice snow weighing down a tree when it warms up and the snow begins to get very wet, you should gently brush it off to prevent breakage or bent limbs.
   
• If you have a greenhouse, use a space heater to kept the temperature above freezing. Again, if you have plants in containers, group them together in the greenhouse in the sunniest spot and close to the heather.
   
• If you have any mulch or straw, it's not too late to heap it around the bases of tender plants.

For more tips to make the most of a winter garden, go to  http://www.hgtv.ca/gardening/articledetails.aspx?ContentId=2922&cat=2&by=8

Virginia Parkhurst, Owner, Dig This Broadmead

When it snows, birds get busy in our gardens, seeking seeds and berries poking out of the snow. Make it easier for them with a feeder filled with seed or suet.  High-calorie and high-fat foods like oil sunflowers, suet and peanuts are all excellent options to place in bird feeders.

Anna’s hummingbirds live here all year long and they especially appreciate hummingbird feeders when it’s cold and snow covers everything. Bring your feeder in overnight to warm it up and prevent freezing, or better yet, have a second feeder and rotate them periodically during the day to keep the nectar from freezing solid.  While, it's cold, increase the sugar in your nectar mixture to 3 parts water to 1 part sugar.

At Dig This, we have many different styles of feeders and bird food to keep your birds warm and well nourished.

Christiane Kamerman, Co-Owner, Dig This Nanaimo
 

 Starting this Friday, December 19th, all our Christmas table linens and ornaments will be on sale 25% off the regular price. Come in soon while there is still a good selection.