D & E Acres

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

Winter Care for Reka Blueberries

Cold-Climate Guide for Zones 3–4
Reka blueberries are cold-hardy, but good fall preparation helps protect their shallow roots, branches, and flower buds during severe winters.
🍂 Fall Preparation
1. Apply a Heavy Layer of Mulch
After the weather begins cooling, spread 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) of mulch around the base of each blueberry bush.
Good choices include:
Pine bark
Pine needles
Shredded leaves
Other acidic organic mulch
Keep the mulch a few centimetres away from the main stems to reduce moisture and rot problems.
The mulch protects the blueberry's shallow root system and reduces damage caused by repeated freezing and thawing.
2. Stop Fertilizing by Late Summer
Avoid nitrogen fertilizer after July.
Late fertilizing can encourage tender new growth that doesn't have enough time to harden before freezing temperatures arrive.
3. Take Advantage of Snow
A consistent layer of snow is excellent winter insulation.
If possible, allow snow to accumulate naturally around the blueberry bushes. Avoid repeatedly clearing snow away from the plants during winter.
4. Don't Prune in the Fall
Leave the bushes alone in autumn unless you're removing obviously broken or badly damaged material.
Do your regular pruning in late winter or early spring while the plant is still dormant.
5. Protect Young or Exposed Plants
Young bushes and plants growing in exposed, windy locations may benefit from a burlap windbreak.
The goal isn't to make the plant warm. It's to reduce exposure to harsh, drying winter winds.
Avoid wrapping plastic tightly around the plant because it can trap moisture and interfere with normal temperature changes.
❄️ Simple Winter Checklist
Late Summer ☐ Stop nitrogen fertilizer after July
☐ Continue watering during dry weather
Fall ☐ Don't heavily prune
☐ Remove badly damaged or diseased material
☐ Water well before the ground freezes if autumn is dry
After Cold Weather Arrives ☐ Apply 4–6 inches of mulch
☐ Protect exposed young plants from winter wind
☐ Allow natural snow to accumulate around the bushes
Late Winter / Early Spring ☐ Inspect for winter damage
☐ Prune while plants are dormant
☐ Remove or redistribute excess mulch as growth resumes
Important for Zones 3–4
For Reka blueberries growing in very cold areas, the priorities are:
Protect the roots + prevent late tender growth + reduce winter wind exposure + make use of natural snow cover.
A healthy, established plant that enters winter fully dormant has a much better chance of handling severe cold than one that is still producing soft new growth.
I also cleaned out the messy Google redirect and citation clutter so this works better as a straightforward garden-care sheet.

09/04/2026

Preparing Strawberry Plants for Winter
Proper winter preparation helps protect strawberry plants from freezing temperatures and repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles, giving them a healthy start next spring.
1. Let the Plants Go Dormant
Don’t cover strawberry plants too early. Allow them to experience a few hard frosts so they naturally enter dormancy.
A good guideline is to wait until nighttime temperatures have dropped to around -5°C (20°F) for several nights and the plants have stopped actively growing.
2. Clean Up the Plants
Remove dead or damaged leaves
Trim away dead, diseased, brown, or badly damaged leaves. Leave healthy green leaves attached.
Remove runners
Cut remaining runners connecting the mother plants to daughter plants. This tidies the bed and allows established plants to concentrate their energy on their roots.
Clean the bed
Remove weeds, fallen leaves, rotten fruit, and other debris that could harbour pests or disease over winter.
3. Apply Winter Mulch
Once the plants are dormant, cover the strawberry bed with approximately 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) of loose mulch.
Good choices include:
Clean, weed-free straw
Pine needles
Dry shredded leaves
Spread the mulch loosely over and around the plants. The goal is to insulate the crowns and roots and reduce damage caused by repeated freezing and thawing.
Avoid packing the mulch tightly, as strawberries still need some airflow.
4. Protect Strawberries in Containers
Strawberries growing in pots are more vulnerable because their roots don't have the insulation provided by the surrounding ground.
Move containers to a protected location such as an unheated garage, shed, cold frame, or sheltered area beside a building.
You can also insulate larger containers with straw or another protective material.
Don't allow the soil to completely dry out. During winter, check the pots occasionally and give them a small amount of water when the soil is dry and unfrozen. Avoid soaking dormant plants.
5. Spring Care
When temperatures begin warming in spring and severe cold is no longer expected, gradually remove the winter mulch.
Don't throw it away immediately. Leave some nearby so the plants can be covered again if a hard frost is forecast.
Once new growth begins, remove dead material, check the crowns for winter damage, and prepare the plants for the new growing season.
Quick Winter Checklist
✓ Wait for several hard frosts
✓ Remove dead, diseased, and damaged leaves
✓ Cut unwanted runners
✓ Remove weeds and debris
✓ Cover plants with 3–6 inches of loose mulch
✓ Shelter container-grown strawberries
✓ Check pots occasionally for moisture
✓ Gradually uncover plants in spring
I also cleaned up the wording so it reads more like a proper gardening guide rather than copied notes.

08/26/2026

Fully stocked again!!! Super convenient

08/26/2026

Check out my bonsai flame trees.
Growing the stem larger then I will trim it more.
My second one I put a weight on it and got it to bend to the side then fan out.

I'm growing a few varieties from seed but the flame trees were the first to sprout.

08/04/2026

So pleased with these tomato plants we got from D & E Acres they are thriving even in this wet September weather!
Tomatoes are coming in HUGE and in abundance.
We don't have a great setup for starting seeds and Im more than happy to support a local grower who does it so well.