The following "reminder list" is based on a Zone 6a growing region, which is centrally located for the North American growing areas. For areas north of Zone 6a add roughly one week per zone for any times given. For areas south, subtract roughly one week per zone. Don't know your hardiness zone? Find it quick on our "Plant Hardiness Zone Map". December is the month when folks everywhere are dizzy with decorating, shopping, entertaining, being entertained and enjoying a happiness that they deny themselves and sadly, others, the rest of the year. We smile a little more, have a little more cheer in our greetings and allow ourselves to show some kindness and benevolence toward others that we inwardly question ourselves why we can't show the rest of the year. Trees, houses and yards are aglow with the bright lights and decorations that bring joy to all who see them. Around the world, gifts are lovingly bought, made and given to show others that we love and care about them. Neighbors, who may share little with each other the rest of the year, express kindness toward each other with warm greetings and wishes for a joyous holiday season. December is also the month when we reflect on the year passed and look in anticipation to the year to come. But, while we we may often think that we cannot possibly get everything done that we want to do, there are still a few chores that need attention in the yard and garden. Fortunately, if we have been keeping up with getting things done the rest of the year, the list of "to-do's" is small. Around The Garden Apply additional mulches to bulbs, perennials and other small plants once the ground freezes. Check the mulch over overwintered vegetables and add as needed to keep a minimum of six inches of straw mulch covering them at all times. Winter storms may come frequently this month. Keep an eye on those cloches that are protecting your winter crops and be prepared to provide additional protection if extreme cold spells are forecast. Crops will grow slower and may be winding down this month but will still need to be harvested and watered regularly until cold weather stops production altogether. If it hasn't frozen, give the compost pile a good stir, wet it down if needed and keep the compost pile covered with a tarp or black plastic. This will help hold in heat and keep it cooking all winter.
Around The Landscape Winter rains tend to make you forget about watering your garden. However, plants and shrubs which are growing beneath large evergreens or under the eaves of the house, may be bone dry by this time. Lack of water in the cold winter months can be fatal to many of these plants. A quick check will let you know if you need to do a little winter watering. If there is a sudden drop in the temperature, provide extra protection for your more tender flowering plants like Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas and Daphne. You can provide temporary, emergency protection by driving in three of four stakes around the plant, and then simply covering the plant with some type of cloth, like burlap, a sheet or an old blanket. Don't let this material come into direct contact with the leaves of the plant. Remove the cover completely, as soon as the weather moderates. Be sure the root zones of azaleas and rhododendrons are thoroughly mulched. Any organic material will do, but mulches made from oak leaves, shredded oak bark, or pine needles are preferred. December is a good month to take cuttings of rhododendrons, azaleas, and other evergreen shrubs. The cutting should be taken from new tip growth, and kept in bright light, at about 70 degrees f. Stay off frozen grass! Hollies may be trimmed now and the prunings used in holiday decorations. Only female holly trees bear the colorful berries. There must be a male tree growing nearby for pollination, if fruits are desired. If you feed rabbits corn or alfalfa, they may leave fruit tree bark unharmed.
On The Patio Take care of our feathered friends! Keep your bird feeder filled, especially when there is snow on the ground. Keep fresh, unfrozen water available for the birds during winter. Keep an aye on the patio furniture if left out and keep it tightly covered. Winter storms can tear covers off of furniture if not kept tight.
In The Shed Don't let your hose freeze and burst. Stretch it out with both ends open, to allow the water to drain completely. Coil it up and put it away. Make sure your outdoor faucets are covered to protect them from freezing.
In The Home This year, consider purchasing a living Christmas tree for your home. They really aren't that much more expensive than a cut tree. This is an excellent way to improve your landscape, and at the same time, save a tree. Before bringing a living tree into the house, water it thoroughly don’t allow the tree’s roots to become dry. - spray with an anti-transpirant to reduce needle moisture loss. - store the tree outdoors in a cool, shady, windless area until the last minute. Mulch the roots to prevent cold injury. - set the tree up in your coolest room.. Living Christmas trees should not be kept in the house for any longer than 10 days. Make sure to have a planting hole already prepared so that you plant it immediately after Christmas. Bring the soil you remove from the hole indoors to keep it from freezing before you need it and fill the planting hole and surrounding area with mulch to keep it from freezing until you're ready to plant. Christmas trees hold needles longer if you make a clean, fresh cut at the base and always keep the trunk standing in water. If you potted up some bulbs, such as hyacinths, daffodils or tulips, last September for winter forcing, keep an eye on them. Make sure they remain moist, and in the dark until they have established their root systems. It is possible that they have already filled their containers with roots and that the new top growth has begun. If this is so, bring them into the house and set them in a cool room, in indirect light. After a week or so, move them into bright light, and watch them go to town! Check on any corms and tubers which you dug up, and stored this fall. Remove and discard any which show signs of disease or rot. Over-wintering geraniums like bright light and cool temperatures. Keep soils on the dry side. Water houseplants with tepid water. Cold tap water may shock plants. Glossy leaved house plants such as Philodendrons, Rubber plants, and Palms should be sponged off periodically, to allow them to breathe. Plants which have fuzzy, textured, or other non-glossy type leaves should be set in the sink and sprayed gently with room temperature water, until the dust is cleaned away. Be sure that the foliage is allowed to dry completely. Provide your house plants with extra humidity by grouping plants together, or by setting the pots on leakproof trays filled with moistened pebbles. On cold nights, move houseplants back from icy windows to prevent chilling injury. Be sure newly purchased indoor plants are well protected for the trip home. Exposure to icy temperatures for even a few moments may cause injury. If you successfully kept last years plants alive, and have been keeping it in 14 hours of darkness since September, your Poinsettias and and Christmas cactus should be ready bring back into the living room by December first. With the proper care, these Christmas plants will remain beautiful for many weeks. They prefer to be kept on the cool side, 65-70 degrees during the day and 55-60 at night. Keep them in bright, natural light whenever possible. Keep them away from heat sources. Keep them out of drafts. Be sure to water them when they become only slightly dry. Never allow them to stand in water for more than an hour. Be sure to punch holes in decorative foil wraps to prevent soggy soil conditions. Hairspray works well to keep seed heads and dried flowers intact on wreaths and arrangements.
For Yourself Give yourself a special gift of happiness this month by giving a gift or gifts to someone you don't know and maybe never will that might not have a Christmas this year. Take time to take a walk or drive around the neighborhood to see the decorations and lights. Allow yourself the luxury of blocking out all of the distractions of life to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. Give a gift back to others by putting up some outdoor decorations. Even if it is just one string of lights, the joy that it will bring to others is enormous. Allow yourself the luxury and joy of discovering a Christmas you may not have seen before by seeing it in and through the eyes of a child. No one else can bring so much joy and wonder to a holiday like a child. You might just discover something you forgot or thought you had lost forever. When you go out partying this season..... PLEASE bring along a designated driver, or take a cab. Above all else, have a happy and SAFE holiday season.
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The information presented in a gardeners calendar is derived from many sources including practical experience of the writer. While we strive to present only fact5ual information, no guarantee is given, whether expressed or implied as to its completeness or accuracy. PO'Folks Ozark Mountain Enterprises accepts no responsibility for any damages resulting from the use of this material. As with all things, PO'Folks Ozark Mountain Enterprises urges all readers to exercise sound reasoning before applying any information they may obtain from any source. |
