Tips for the Garden - December
2019
The month of December brings the holiday season and warm thoughts of family, friends and community. I would like to say “Thank You” and wish you and yours a “Blessed Holiday Season” with all the best in the New Year!
Fall will
turn into winter this month. It may not always be the most comfortable time to
be planting anything in your landscape, but it is a great time for the plants.
Trees and shrubs are completely dormant now, so the concept of transplant shock
does not apply.
Trimming
or pruning of some of your trees and shrubs can be done now. Basically, it
breaks down like this, if the tree or shrub flowers before the 1st
of June don’t touch it now. If it flowers after the 1st of June, you
can safely cut it now. Resist the urge to cut back everything.
Here are
a few tips on winter houseplant care. Flowering plants need at least half a day
of direct sunlight. Cacti and many succulents require a sunny location, and
crotons need direct sun to maintain the decorative color. The ideal
temperatures for foliage plants are 68-70 degrees during the day and slightly
lower at night. The amount of water the houseplants need declines during
winter, so increase the amount of time between watering. Reduce fertilizing as well.
Some of
the plants in your landscape can help you decorate for the Christmas season as
you prune them for next year. Holly and Boxwood can be trimmed now with some of
the cuttings used to accent wreaths or live indoor plants. Some of the growth
of evergreens such as White Pine, Norway Spruce, and even some of the seed
heads of ornamental grasses can be used to make a harvest wreath or basket for
your front door or porch. Talk about recycling! After Christmas, you can take
them to your compost bin for future fertilizer!
Continue
to feed our fine feathered friends and place heated birdbaths with fresh water
out for them.
Again, I
wish you and your family a very Blessed Christmas season. Let’s get to work on
planning that beautiful garden scene for next year!
See you
in the Garden…………..
Sandi
Hillermann Mcdonald
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