First week of December:
o Collect
pine cones, old bird nests, any remaining seed heads, etc. to be used in making
wreaths and other holiday decorations.
o Spray
seed heads and dried flowers with hair spray to keep them intact.
o Clean
and sanitize (mixture of bleach and water can be used) emptied seed flats
before storing so that they will be ready when needed in the early spring.
o Change
the oil and do routine maintenance on your outdoor power equipment, such as
rotor tillers and lawn mowers that use oil in their engines. Remember to recycle
this used oil.
Second week of
December:
o
Check stored dahlia tubers and gladiolus corms;
if sprouting, move to a cooler location. If they appear to be shriveling,
rewrap them using a ventilated plastic bag. If there are signs of molding, change
their environment; this is usually the result of moisture.
o
After the ground freezes thoroughly, mulch
azaleas, rhododendron and camellias. These acid-loving plants prefer
acid-loving materials such as oak leaves or pine needles. If you do not have
either of these, any mixture of dried leaves will do.
o
Scout your landscape for the small buff or
yellowish velvet gypsy moth egg cases attached to trees, stones, walls, logs
and other outdoor objects, including outdoor household articles. Pick off and
destroy them.
Third week of
December:
o
Prune fruit trees anytime this winter. Keep in
mind, it is easier on the tree if the temperature is 45F and above.
Last week in December:
o
Fertilize peach and apple trees anytime after
the leaves drop and before spring growth.
o
Your holiday tree has several good uses. Place
branches over spring flowering bulbs and/or perennial flower beds to help
prevent heaving damage caused by the ground freezing and thawing. Branches
placed next to a bird feeder provide shelter for birds.
First half of January:
§
On warm
days, go outside and check your perennials and bulbs to see if they have been
heaved out of the ground. If any heaving is evident, press down firmly and
cover with at least two inches of organic mulch.
§
A problem
with houseplants this time of year is the low humidity in most homes during the
winter. Place plants over but not in trays that have water in them.
§
Low light
levels in your home may be causing problems with your houseplants. Those that
normally do best on the north side of the house, move to an east window. For
those plants that are ordinarily in the east windows, move to a south location.
Second half of January:
§
Start
pansy plants from seeds indoors. They should be ready to transplant outdoors in
mid-March to bloom with spring tulips and daffodils.
§
Begin
dormant pruning of fruit trees and grapevines now and try to finish them before
March.
§
Winter is
the ideal time to apply horticultural oil sprays to kill overwintering mites,
aphids and scale. Use this oil on deciduous plants and hardy evergreens but not
on needle-leafed species. Spray horticultural oils when temperatures are about
40F but not within 24 hr. of a freeze (watch the local weather stations for
this information). Read and follow all label directions.
