by Chris Winslow

1. Replace summer annuals with  winter bloomers if the frost has

burned them. Top performers are dianthus, flowering kale, flowering

cabbage, pansies, snapdragons, violas, and stock. Add  some  rich

compost and bone and blood meal to the soil to give the new plants

a boost.

 

2. Plant bulbs: Still plenty of time to plant those spring flowering

bulbs. Look for narcissus, daffodils, tulips, anemones, ranunculus,

jonquils, and muscari.

 

3. Cut back perennials: If the  frost and  freezing  weather has

damaged the tops of your flowering perennials, cut them back to just

above ground level and mulch with a compost and pine-bark mix.

This will conserve soil moisture and keep roots healthy and warm.

 

4. Choose a living Christmas tree: This is the season to bring a

tree indoors for the holidays. Why not choose one that’s alive…

one that you can add to your landscape in January.  Some good

choices: Allepo pine, Arizona blue-ice cypress, deodar cedar, blue

point juniper, and Italian stone pine. (Currently in stock at the 

nursery: Aleppo pine, Italian stone pine + leyland cypress 1 gal.

$32.99, 5 gal. $49.99-$59.99, 7 gal. $124.99.) 

 

5. Rake leaves: Get outside, do some raking and inhale some of

that lovely chilly winter air. Remember if you leave leaves on your

lawn, they can damage grass, especially if they become wet.

 

6. Start a compost pile: Please don’t send those leaves to the land-

fill. Use them to build a great big compost heap.

 

7. Move tropical plants inside… or they will die.  Mandevilla,

plumeria, philodendron, ficus, bougainvillea, and hibiscus will all

perish if allowed to freeze. Put them in a garage or a greenhouse,

and provide as much light and ventilation as possible; water when

dry throughout the winter. If you can’t carry them in, have some

row cover (freeze cloth) close at hand.

8. Care for fruit trees: Spray them and look after them. Rake all

leaves from around the base as this litter may carry over insects to

the spring. Spray with dormant oil to kill scale insects. This should

also be done on scale-infested shrubs. Inspect burford holly and

euonymous, as they are prone to this.

 

9. Buy a little rosemary tree (trimmed). They are a delight, and

make nice table decorations for Christmas. After the holidays, dig

it into your culinary herb garden as a center point.

 

10. Rest on your laurels: On those super cold days when gardening

outside is impossible, curl up by the fire and take stock of your gar-

dening accomplishments for the year… and start thinking of some

plans for the New Year.

                              Happy Gardening Everyone!