2011 DECEMBER ACTIVITIES

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler

2011 DECEMBER ACTIVITIES

Shorter days, possibility of rain, colder mornings, possible snow in the higher locations, and the activities of the Holidays tend to put gardening on the back burner. There are many gardening activities that can be done inside, such as making certain that your favorite new 2011 seed and plant catalogs have arrived. Then you can take advantage of sunny, warmer day when it arrives, tempting us to spend it outdoors!

December is a time to finish the fall tasks and begin the winter chores. Or you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the projects that you have completed this year. However, you must not ignore the garden’s water needs if there is insufficient rain.

The number one chore this month besides watering when necessary is to clean the leaves and debris from the gutters. A gutter filled with leaves and a heavy downpour can cause the water to overflow and break your gutter system.

Second, check the time clocks on all automatic watering systems as some may be set for Daylight Saving time. Adjust the system for the number of days required for each garden section and the length of time required for winter watering. This is the time of the year you will wish your system had an automatic water turn off for the weather to save water.

Third, read your “how to prune” book for techniques on pruning grapes, vines, shrubs, and deciduous fruit trees after they have shed their leaves. Although you can wait until January to do this chore, you can get a head start if December time allows. Do not prune flowering trees and shrubs until after the spring bloom. Remove the old blossoms not removed from your hydrangea and rhododendron bushes and shape the bush.

Fourth, plant the tulips and spring bulbs that you have stored in the refrigerator for six weeks, if you live in a cold winter area, I hope that you have planted the bulbs before the soil hardens. This will make room for your holiday foods in your refrigerator. Spring bulbs should be planted this month so that a good root system will develop to nourish the bulb before it sends up leaves and finally the flowers.

Gladiolus corms should be available this month. Buy sufficient bulbs to plant at 2-4 week intervals now through February to insure a succession of flowers this spring.

Fifth, review your garden, find where may you need to replace an old rose or shrub. bare root and potted stock of roses and shrubs will be available at the nurseries later this month. Bare root fruit trees should be here before New Year’s if the weather in the commercial growing territory permits digging.

Prepare the ground now for these plants before it rains. If you wait to dig a hole until right after it rains, (and the soil is too wet to dig), the too-wet soil drives out air that is essential to good root growth. If you find the plant you must have while the selection is good, remove any wrappings from the plant and heel it temporarily in moist sawdust, compost, sand or loose soil. You can relocate a rose or shrub this month or in January if the soil permits.

Holiday greenery to plant includes holly-type shrubs like Burford, Wilson and the dwarf Chinese hollies. The traditional English holly needs shade and moisture and does not do as well as the holly-leaf osmanthus which is available in dark green and the variegated form. Check your nursery for plants that can be planted now.

Small container plants which are available to brighten the holidays include conifers, the many hollies, osmanthus, strawberry tree, Norfolk Island pine, and a young grevillea, “noel”.

Gifts of potted flowering and greenery plants need special care. Remove the decorative wrapping from the drain hole so the roots do not stand in water. An outdoor plant should be placed by a window with lots of light, and the indoor plant away from direct light and any source of heat. Water only when the soil is dry. I water with a few ice cubes during the week to keep the soil moist.

When you cut berries or greenery for decorations, use the occasion to prune a little and thin out the crowded centers or longer stems to shape the bush. Always cut to a bud or branch so no stub is left.

For instant color in the garden or in a container, the following plants are still available at the nurseries: calendula, English daisy, pansy, petunia, poppy, snapdragon, primrose, stock, sweet William, ranunculus, viola, etc. This is a good time to plant ground covers while it is still cool.

Your favorite garden plants that may succumb to heavy frost can be saved by root cuttings. Make 4-6inch cuttings of begonias, carnations, coleus, geraniums, impatiens, and others and place in a good porous soil mix. Keep the cuttings in a light, warm area and keep the soil moist.

Perennial vegetables that will be available towards the end of the month include artichoke, asparagus, horseradish, and potatoes. Cane berries and strawberries will also be available. Buy early for the best selection and plant right away. From your grocer, you can plant bulbs of Jerusalem artichokes, elephant garlic and shallots. You can plant successive onion and garlic sets or seeds from now until the end of January for continuous harvest next summer.

Cool season lawns and dichondra can use a light application of nitrogen monthly. Keep the mower blades no lower than 1 ½ inches, mowing the grass, not the stem.

Continue the dormant spraying of all dormant trees. Do not spray lime-sulfur on apricot trees or any green foliage.

Buying a cut Christmas tree requires that you place the trunk in a bucket of water and storing in a cool, shaded place until you are ready to bring it into the house. When you are ready to set up your tree, make a fresh cut on the trunk at least one inch above the original cut to encourage water uptake. Place the tree immediately in a water holding tree stand. It is important that the stand hold a large quantity of water because if the water supply runs out, a seal will form on the trunk keeping the water from absorbing. A fresh cut should be made again if this happens. Check the water supply each day and refill as needed. A six foot tree will drink up to a quart of water a day! Keep the tree away from a heat source, including a TV set to keep it fresh as long as possible.

Hopefully, you will be able to cut up the tree after Christmas and use your new mulcher-shredder to prepare the pieces for your compost pile!

Robert H. Schuler M. G.
rhschuler@verizon.net

For previous articles: www.californiagardenclubs.org/Features_pointers

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler
Oregon State University Master Gardeners; National and CGCI
Garden Study and Landscaping Design Master Consultants