MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. - Jan. 30, 2017 - PRLog -- After several months of dreary winter weather, everyone is looking for signs of spring. One of the best ways to cure cabin fever is to go outdoors and cut some tree and shrub branches for forcing.
Late January into February is the best time for collecting spring forcing branches such as cherries, magnolias, forsythia, pussy willow, and quince. Early spring bloomers are what will have the best bloom buds for forcing during this time.
Pick a day where the temperatures are above freezing so the branches and buds are not frozen. The length to cut off depends on your plants and displaying containers. Larger branches need strong sturdy containers that will hold their weight and water.
Take the budded branches inside. Viewing each branch, clip off any dead or broken stems, remove any leaves or buds on the area that will be in water and make a fresh cut at the bottom end at an angle. Then make a cut into the angle to further assist with water absorption. This method works better than smashing the ends with a hammer that can damage the 'veins' that would have taken up the water. Place the freshly cut branches into a sturdy vase with warm water.
Place the branched arrangements in an area not in direct sun and out of the way of drafts. The branches only need clean water, which should be changed out every 4 to 5 days to keep fresh. As long as the water is being changed out as recommended, there is no need for any additives.
Over a couple of weeks, maybe sooner, flowers begin to appear and brighten up the rooms. Who doesn't enjoy bringing nature indoors, especially during the off-season? Flowers blooming in the late winter months are a wonderful mood lifter.
Not everyone has access to yards full of cherry trees, willows, forsythia or magnolias. GreenwoodNursery.com offers branches for forcing flowers coming on from late January throughout the year. They also have branches for dogwoods, late spring cherries, viburnums, lilacs, hydrangeas, and a selection of evergreen branches. They sell retail to customers for their homes and wholesale to florists, floral distributors, wedding and event planners, resorts, hotels, and other commercial establishments.
"Our gardeners love going out into their yard in mid-winter to collect branches for forcing," notes Cheryl Jones, President of Greenwood Nursery. "The key to successful forcing is to select branches with nicely formed buds. If the buds are small and really tight, they aren't likely to flower." Jones adds, "Choose vases or containers with heavy bottoms that aren't easily tipped over with warm water." Says Jones, "Place forced branches near your entry door. You see the flowers as they emerge. It's a wonderfully subtle way to brighten your day."
ABOUT GREENWOOD NURSERY: GreenwoodNursery.com ships gardening plants from their online plant catalog throughout the contiguous United States and Alaska. After taking their wholesale plant catalog online in 1998, Greenwood Nursery continues to provide a wide selection of shade trees, perennial plants, flowering shrubs, ground covers, branches for forcing and more. They supply their customers with beautiful, healthy plants and expert customer service.
For further information or to place an order, please visit https://www.greenwoodnursery.com.
Contact
CD Jones
***@greenwoodnursery.com
Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)
Read Full Story - Tips on Forcing Spring Branches For Blooming Indoors | More news from this source
Press release distribution by PRLog
