Unlike the Almanac, here’s a prediction that can’t go wrong

By 
Erin Schanen

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a stormy and snowy winter in Wisconsin. And if past performance is any indication, there’s about a 50% chance that it’s right, at least according to Popular Mechanics, which analyzed the periodical’s prediction history.

This mediocre performance — which is about the same as throwing a dart at a dartboard — has given me the confidence to make my own winter prediction: Gardeners will sustain more losses in their gardens this winter than they have in years.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac makes its predictions by “comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity.”

I’m basing my prediction on something far less mysterious: digging in my garden.

My garden is as dry as I’ve ever seen it at this time of year, which is not surprising given the lack of rain for much of the summer. And while the conditions in Ozaukee County are not officially considered a drought, gardeners should be concerned about just how dry it is now. Plants that go into winter stressed from drought are less capable of dealing with the additional stresses of winter, including extreme cold and freeze and thaw cycles.

This is especially true for trees and shrubs that are not well established, but shallow rooted perennials will also be affected.

Fortunately, there’s a way to stave off winter’s effects on our gardens: water now. There’s lots of time to water before the ground (and hose bibs) freeze. Even one deep soak offered this fall, preferably through a slower flowing hose allowed to sit on the drip line of trees and shrubs for a good amount of time, can make a big difference.

This is not a job that requires a lot of attention — feel free to go rake some leaves or clean up the garden and come back to move the hose every 20 minutes or so — but it can be time consuming. I’ve resorted to sprinklers to water perennials, not because they do the job better but because individually watering thousands plants is not realistic.

But whatever time a good deep watering takes, it’s a worthwhile effort. My goal is to deep water any trees and shrubs planted in the last two years and a couple of trees that are struggling twice yet this year.

Making sure plants are well watered prior to winter is not a guarantee that they’ll make it through next summer, but it certainly stacks the deck in your favor.

I’m still confident in my winter prediction, but the genius in my proclamation is that if I’m wrong I can assume its because this column convinced readers to go do some watering.

Or, as one gardening friend predicted when I discussed this column idea with her, simply putting a column out into the world discussing droughtlike conditions almost guarantees that we’ll be getting a lot of rain soon. And in that case, you’re welcome.

I’m not backing up my prediction with financial bets, but I’d happily take on the staff at Old Farmer’s Almanac in darts any day.

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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