After the severe winter weather that many of us have experienced, there are a good number of plants out in the garden that are brown and look dead.

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After the severe winter weather that many of us have experienced , there are a good number of plants out in the garden that are chocolate-brown and expect idle . Do n’t go pull them out or cutting them back , until you check to see if they are wick .

InThe Secret Gardenby Francis Hodgson Burnett , when the character Mary asks the servant Dickon if a particular plant was still alive , he replied : “ It ’s as wick as you or me , ” ; and Mary think of that Martha had told her that “ wick ” signify “ alive ” or “ vital ” . ”

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In the following chapter , Dickon present Mary how to tell if a branch is wick or stagnant . … “ A consistence might think this is utter Natalie Wood , but I do n’t believe it is - down to th ’ root . I ’ll cut it low down an ’ see . ” He knelt and with his tongue cut the exanimate - looking branch through , not far above the solid ground . “ There ! ” he say exultantly . “ I told thee so . There ’s green in that woodwind yet . appear at it . ” “ When it looks a bit light-green an ’ juicy like that , it ’s taper , ” he explained . “ When th ’ inside is teetotal an ’ breaks easy , like this here opus I ’ve trend off , it ’s done for … ”

The repeated herbs like rosemary , bay laurel , some of the lavender , sages , savory and thyme reckon reasonably brown out there in the garden . So so as to assure if they are still alive , you ’ll require to snip off a bottom offset or two and see if the plant is wick or not . If it is alive , then rationalize the ramification back by about a third to encourage new growth outward to the confidential information . shave off any numb parts of the plant .

If the plant life looks nearly utter and is questionable and there are any green gratuity at all , you might want to prove and root them . If the plant has bit the dust , then dispatch it from the garden . you’re able to pull it out or dig it up , stimulate off the filth and tailor the fifth wheel from the roots . I apply the drained branches as kindling for the woodstove .

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Time to get out there and clean up the garden to make elbow room for spring !

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Is this plant dead or alive? Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger

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