December Gardening Tips

This month can be full of surprises.  It may be cold and icy, mild and fall-like, or a combination of both!  Evergreens, once worshipped for their enduring qualities, are particularly prominent in the landscape now.  They have interesting variations in color, ranging from green to gray, blue, silver, and gold.  Foliage varies from fine to sharp spruce needles to glossy, broad magnolia leaves.  This enduring greenery gives the landscape life when all else is quiet.

As we reflect on the growing season that just passed, below are a few gardening tips to get you through the drab days of winter…

Indoor Gardening

Holiday plants will last longer if given proper attention.  Provide the correct light, humidity, day and nighttime temperature conditions.  The flowers on poinsettias and Christmas cactus will last longest if you place them in a brightly lit, cool area free from both warm and cold drafts.

Make holiday decorations from sprigs cut from the garden:  needle and broadleaved evergreens, berries, vines, and ground cover.    Twist grapevines into wreaths.  Add pinecones and interesting seedpods, dried herbs and flowers and fragrant spices.

Move dormant amaryllis into bright light to begin new growth cycle.  Refresh soil.  Start watering.

Woody Plants

Prune evergreens to use sprigs for holiday decorations.  

Buy a live Christmas tree to plant out in the yard when festivities are over.

Protect evergreens, particularly broad-leaved varieties from drying winter wind and sun by setting canvas, burlap, or polyethylene plastic screens to the south and west.  Protect shrubs and small trees from hungry deer by spraying with deer repellent.

Lawns

Avoid excessive walking on frozen grass, which can cause bare spots.

Flowers

Protect newly planted bulbs and perennials by mulching with straw, chopped leaves, or other organic matter after the ground freezes.  Once soil is frozen, cover low-growing evergreens with discarded Christmas boughs for protection.

Kitchen Garden

Set tree guards to protect apples and cherries from rodent damage.

Harvest fresh parsley, sage, thyme, parsnips, kale, collards and brussels sprouts for winter meals.

Around the Yard

Ventilate cold frame until ground freezes, then close and mulch lightly or cover with straw matting.

Inventory leftover supplies, and protect organic sprays from freezing.  Keep out of reach of children, pets and unsuspecting adults.

Sharpen, clean, and oil lawn mower and cutting tools; clean and oil garden tools.