DECEMBER-JANUARY GARDENING CALENDER

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.