December Gardening Calendar

Houseplants

• On cold nights, move houseplants back from icy windows to prevent chilling injury.
• Overwintering geraniums like bright light and cool temperatures. Keep soils on the dry side.
• Be sure newly purchased indoor plants are well protected for the trip home. Exposure to icy temperatures for
• even a few moments may cause injury.
• Water houseplants with tepid water. Cold tap water may shock plants.
• Weeks 2-4: Holiday Poinsettia basics: - sun for at least half the day. - keep away from drafts, registers and radiators. - night temperatures in 50’s or low 60’s, days at 70 degrees. - the soil should dry only slightly between thorough waterings. Discard the drainage. - be sure to punch holes in decorative foil wraps to prevent soggy soil conditions.

Ornamentals

• 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.
• Weeks 3-4: Mulch strawberries for winter with straw. This should be done after several nights near 20 degrees, but before temperatures drop into the teens. Apply straw loosely, but thick enough to hide plants from view.

Ornamentals

• Be sure the root zones of azaleas and rhododendrons are thoroughly mulched. Any organic material will do, but mulches made from oak leaves, shredded oak bark, or pine needles are preferred.
• Living Christmas tree basics: - dig the planting hole before the ground freezes. - mulch and cover the backfill soil and the planting hole to keep them dry and unfrozen. - don’t allow the tree’s roots to become dry. - spray with an anti-transpirant to reduce needle moisture loss. - store the tree outdoors in a cool, shady, windless area until the last minute. Mulch the roots to prevent cold injury. - set the tree up in your coolest room. - don’t keep the tree indoors for more than one week. Plant outdoors promptly.
• Hairspray works well to keep seed heads and dried flowers intact on wreaths and arrangements.
• Weeks 1-3: Hollies may be trimmed now and the prunings used in holiday decorations.
• Weeks 1-3: Only female holly trees bear the colorful berries. There must be a male tree growing nearby for pollination, if fruits are desired.

Miscellaneous

• Week 1: Clean and oil all garden hand tools before storing for winter.
• Week 1: All power equipment should be winterized before storage. Change the oil and lubricate moving parts. Either drain fuel systems or mix a gas stabilizing additive into the tank.
• Week 1: Apply mulches to bulbs, perennials and other small plants once the ground freezes.
• Week 1: If you feed rabbits corn or alfalfa, they may leave fruit tree bark unharmed.