Gardening Calendar

Ornamentals

• Now is the ideal time to plant trees and shrubs. Before digging the hole, prepare the site by loosening the soil well beyond the drip line of each plant. Plant trees and shrubs at the depth they grew in the nursery and no deeper. Remove all wires, ropes and non-biodegradeable materials from roots before back-filling. Apply a two- to three-inch mulch layer, but stay several inches away from the trunk. Keep the soil moist, not wet, to the depth of the roots.
• Week 1: Plant tulips now.
• Weeks 1-3: Newly planted broad-leaf evergreens such as azaleas, boxwood and hollies benefit from a bulap screen for winter wind protection. Set screen stakes in place before the ground freezes.
• Weeks 3-4: Mums can be cut back to within several inches of the ground once flowering ends. After the ground freezes, apply a two- to three-inch layer of loose mulch such as pine needles, straw or leaves.
• Week 3-4: Mulch flower and bulb beds after the ground freezes, to prevent injury to plants from frost heaving.

• Keep mulches pulled back several inches from the base of fruit trees to prevent bark injury from hungry mice and other rodents.
• Week 1: Fallen, spoiled or mummified fruits should be cleaned up from the garden and destroyed by burying.
• Week 1: Harvest pecans when they start to drop from trees. Shake nuts onto tarps laid on the ground.

• Fall tilling the vegetable garden exposes many insect pests to winter cold, reducing their numbers in next year’s garden.
• Weeks 1-3: Overcrowded or unproductive rhubarb plants can be divided now.
• Weeks 3-4: Root crops such as carrots, radishes, turnips and Jerusalem artichokes store well outdoors in the ground. Just before the ground freezes, bury these crops under a deep layer of leaves or straw. Harvest as needed during winter by pulling back this protective mulch.

• Now is a good time to collect soil samples to test for pH and nutritional levels.
• To prevent injury to turf grasses, keep leaves raked up off of the lawn.
• Weeks 2-4: Be sure to shut off and drain any outdoor water pipes or irrigation systems that may freeze during cold weather.
• Weeks 3-4: For cyclamen to bloom well indoors, they need cool temperatures in the 50-60 degree range, bright light, evenly moist soils and regular fertilization.