December Gardening Checklist

The shortest day of the year is coming soonÑDecember 22Ñand the time is ripe to brighten things up indoors with narcissus and amaryllis, scarlet poinsettias, and fragrant sprigs and boughs of evergreen. Remember to save some energy for maintenance, winterizing, and houseplant care.

Holiday stuff

Get in the holiday spirit by bringing in the outdoors: a bushy tree, holly sprigs, swags of evergreenÑand mistletoe, of course.

á             Shop for amaryllis, Christmas cactus, and poinsettias to give as gifts or to make your home holiday-cozy.

á             Select this year's Christmas tree! If you buy a living tree (which doesn't cost much more and can be planted after the holidays), give it a thorough watering before you take it indoors, and don't keep it inside for longer than 10 days.

á             If you buy a cut tree, it will absorb water better if you recut the stem; check the water level twice dailyÑtrees may absorb up to a gallon of water per day.

á             Take cuttings of fragrant evergreen boughs and holly branches to make wreaths, drape as garlands, or tuck around candles as a centerpiece.

á             What better time to make your own holiday wish list of gardening gifts?

 

Maintenance

During the downtime of winter, you can always take measures to prolong the life of your tools, mower, hoses, and outdoor pipes.

á             Clean tools with a wire brush, then store them in a bucket of sand mixed with oil.

á             Winterize your lawn mower: Run the engine dry, drain and replace the oil, and replace the air filter; if blades need sharpening or other repairs are needed, take your mower to the shop during this slow season.

á             Disconnect nozzles from hoses, and hoses from their spigots, then stretch them out to drain all water before storing them, preferably under cover.

á             Put pipe wrap or other protection around your outdoor spigots to prevent freezing.

á             Straighten up your utility area or garden shed for a fresh start in the spring; store pesticides and other hazardous materials in a locked cupboard out of reach of children.

á             Cover compost piles; though compost doesn't need as much attention now, it will benefit from an occasional turning over, unless it's frozen.

 

Trees and shrubs

If you can dig, you can plant. If the ground isn't frozen solid, trees and shrubs planted now will preserve important energy over the winter.

á             When planting trees or shrubs, add a healthy dose of compost to your planting hole, if you have some, and mix processed manure and peat moss with your existing soil.

á             Stake larger shrubs and trees to protect them from winter winds.

á             If you haven't done so yet, protect tender trees from winter scalding and freezing by covering their trunks in paper tree wrap, starting at the base and spiraling upward.

á             Prune older trees that have stone fruits, but hold off on pruning other fruit trees and shrubs until January; roses won't be ready for pruning for another month or two.

á             Take cuttings from established new tip growth of azaleas, rhododendrons, heathers, and other evergreens; keep indoors at a constant 70 degrees F, with plenty of light.

 

Winterizing

Although the best time for mulching and covering plants varies by type and region, here are some general guidelines to keep in mind for winter care.

á             Roses, strawberry plants, and perennials will be grateful for a layer of mulch once the ground has frozen to an inch deep.

á             To keep carrots, parsley, leeks, potatoes, and parsnips into the winter, give them a layer of nice straw mulch now.

á             In ultra-cold weather, tender plants and early-flowering plants such as camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, and daphne will need some extra help. Put a few stakes around their perimeter, then drape a cloth covering such as burlap or flannel over each plant without touching its leaves. Remove as soon as weather lightens up.

á             If you applied dormant spray in November, give plants and deciduous trees a second application this month; then when you first notice new buds popping outÑtypically in late January or early FebruaryÑapply the third and last winter coat.

 

Houseplants

With just a small helping hand, you can keep houseplants happy during these short days. They'll need less water now, so test their soil for dryness before adding more.

á             Christmas cactus and poinsettias you've been keeping cool to force holiday blooms should be ready to re-enter the family now; give them a warm, sunny spot for best leaf development, and keep an eye on their watering needs.

á             Give your plants a wash: for glossy-leafed plants such as philodendron, palm, and rubber plants, with socks or gloves on both hands (using one for support underneath) gently wipe their leaves to unclog pores; place other types of plants in a sink and spray them with room-temperature water, or group them in the shower.

á             While your heater is working overtime this winter, give plants some extra moisture by layering trays with regularly moistened pebbles, setting pots on top; grouping them closely also helps.

 

Little live things

From slimy pests to feathered friends, small attentions must be paid this month.

á             In the hunt for slugs and snails there's never a dull momentÑkeep up the good fight.

á             Not everyone believes in feeding birdsÑif they become dependent they may lose their own food-hunting skillsÑbut expectant perching pals will be happy for feedings as the weather turns cold; have the seed bucket ready to fill feeders, especially after snow.

 

Perennials

Even if it's too late to plant perennials in your climate, it's not too early to start planning and placing orders for your spring garden.

á             Start getting serious about that stack of catalogs; it's a perfect time to begin ordering bulbs and seeds for the spring.

á             Take cuttings of perennials.

á             If the ground hasn't frozen yet, you can still hustle and plant spring-flowering bulbs, including crocus, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.

á             If you stored dug-up tubers or corms in the fall, check in on them and toss any that are rotten or diseased.

 

Watering

Thankfully, watering tasks have slowed to a dribbleÑbut is there anyone you've forgotten?

á             Precipitation will take care of the moisture needs of most plants, but do check those that might be missing out on moisture because they're located under eaves or evergreens; they may die if they get too parched.

 

Lawn care

For most of us, the days of mowing are finally overÑfor a while.

á             December is a prime time for lawn fertilizing; if you have problems with moss, choose a fertilizer that includes moss control.

á             Help grass keep its health over the winter: Don't walk on it if it's frozen.

Happy Holidays