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General Tips for December
Remember, it is the dry cold that kills plants, so as the soil dries out and we find ourselves facing several days of below-freezing temperatures, it is a good idea to water everything well
Clean out any remaining leaves from your pond.Be sure your bird feeders and birdbaths are clean and kept filled. If you have a suet feeder, now is the perfect time to put it out.
Don't do any digging or planting if the ground is too wet or saturated. Cover any area to be planted thus 'off season' with plastic, to give it a chance to dry out a bit before digging or planting.
Replant window boxes with spring bulbs, small conifers, heather, pansies, other things for winter or early spring enjoyment.
With most, if not all the leaves finally off the trees, it's time to clean out gutters and treat for moss on roofs -- we recommend Safer's Moss Killer. Drain hoses and put them away for the winter. Also turn off outdoor water sources.
Have bubble wrap, burlap, plastic, frost blankets, etc. on hand to put around containers for protection in below-freezing temperatures. Additionally, if containers can be huddled together, especially up against a fence or building, they will receive even more protection. And if you're wondering what to do with all those pesky leaves you have left after mulching everything in sight -- bag them up and pack the bags around the huddled containers to help keep 'em cozy.
Buy holiday gifts for your favorite gardeners! Design, read, plan, dream... (look out -- here come the catalogs!)
Other tips for the month
Perennials, Annuals and Vegetables
For bulbs in the ground, keep an eye on them -- if any start to rise to the surface of the soil in the fluctuating temperatures, just gently push them back into place and mulch.
Now that we have had some freezing temperatures, it is a good time to do some winter cleanup and mulching. Continue to cut back perennials and remove annuals that were done in by the cold. Straw, leaves, other mulch should be on empty vegetable beds
Take containers that held annuals and empty the containers of plants and soil, so they don't freeze, or put them in an unheated basement or garage that stays above the freezing mark.
"Every weed you pull now will be many less to have to pull in Spring."
Slugs are still around, especially if you are growing succulent winter greens in your vegetable garden, so one more application of "Worry Free" would be in order.
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Lawn Care
Clean off the leaves that have fallen on the lawn. They make great mulch in the garden, especially if they can be shredded (go over them with the lawn mower before tucking it away for the winter).
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Trees, Shrubs and Fruit
December is a month when most of us turn our attentions toward indoor activities. Other than hanging Christmas lights on our houses, we spend most of our time hustling around, readying ourselves for holiday celebrations. The garden can be a great help in those preparations. A few branches of Cedar or Pine lend their softness and wintery scent to a cozy livingroom. Add a few sprigs of holly and rosehips, and you've got a colorful decoration, made even better when it comes from your own yard.
Take cuttings from plants that can afford to be pruned a bit, being sure to step back and observe the plant between cuttings and avoiding bald spots. Of course, if your yard is short on conifers and holly, you can find all of the necessary supplies at Portland Nursery. Now is time to shop for your Living Christmas Tree! Portland Nursery offers a vast selection of Conifers that will work as living trees. Keep in mind that our houses are warm and dry in winter, conditions that are nice for humans and our animals, but not so nice for trees.
Trees can only exist happily in such conditions for up to a week. Any longer and they will lose needles, if not now, then in spring, and they may die. While in the house, water them with ice cubes, keeping the root ball cool and moist. For more tips, download our free Living Christmas Tree Care brochure.
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