|
November In Your Garden
-
Plant spring-flowering bulbs,
perennials, shrubs, and trees.
-
Clean-up of all beds and garden areas
should be undertaken as soon as the plants are bloomed out or killed
by frost.
-
Water when dry; give regular, deep
waterings.
-
If lawn is over seeded with domestic
ryegrass, keep moist until seed germinates.
-
Fertilize established lawns so they can
store enough food for winter.
-
Spray or dust as needed to control
pests and diseases.
-
Dig summer-flowering bulbs, corms, and
tubers that are not winter-hardy; dry off and store.
-
Cut chrysanthemums, asters, and peonies
back to the ground when bloom is over.
-
Brace or stake recently planted trees
and shrubs before winter.
-
Mulch all beds heavily for added winter
protection.
-
Dig and divide perennials and
ornamental grasses.
-
Prune late-summer and fall-blooming shrubs.
-
Clean gutters and downspouts. Gutter
overflow can damage or kill plants.
-
After roses lose their leaves, rake up
the spent foliage and old mulch to help prevent diseases from
overwintering in the soil. Add fresh mulch.
Tip of the Month
Here's a way to
keep grass from growing into your flower bed without laying down a
wooden or brick border. Just work up the soil a couple of inches deep
along the edge. Stir in a little dry cement mix. Then when you water the
garden, the dirt edge will harden, and grass will not grow through it.
|
December In
Your Garden
-
Plant fruit trees,
shrubs and trees, pansies, and perennials.
-
Water lawn regularly
in dry areas; mow as needed.
-
Feed winter-blooming
plants, like primroses, pansies, and camellias; violets and pecans
should be fertilized with a formula high in potash. Withhold food from
other plants in which dormancy should be encouraged at this time.
-
Mulch all beds heavily
to prepare for upcoming winter.
-
Prune grapes as soon as
they become dormant; remove one-third to one-half of old wood and thin
out undergrowth; prune roses as they become dormant and shrubs as they
finish blooming.
Tip of the Month
Squirrels seem to love some
bulbs to the dismay of the gardener. Some people respond to this by
planting twice as many bulbs as they wish to see flower, in the hope that
the bulbs won't all be devoured.
Many gardeners swear by mixing daffodils or Fritillaria
bulbs in with others because squirrels seem to be repelled by these
varieties.
You may also use sheets of wire mesh or screen in the
soil just above the bulbs. the foliage has no trouble getting through, but
the squirrels have trouble doing so.
Holiday
Plant Care Tips
Poinsettia - water
well when the top inch of soil becomes dry. If they are wrapped in foil,
punch holes in the bottom so the excess water can drain.
Christmas Cactus - will bloom longer if it is kept away from heat
sources. Locate your plant in the coolest portion of the room with plenty
of light.
Live Christmas Trees - should be kept indoors for only about two
weeks. The longer it stays in after that, the more you reduce your chances
of it living in your yard. Move it gradually out into the cold before
planting.
|
