December
Thanks to an unusually warm and wet November, recently planted plants are off to a great start. However this wet ground may also cause freeze damage if it turns too cold too quickly. That’s why proper mulching is so important. 2-4 inches, turned twice a year (spring and fall) and kept away from stems and bark.
Those who celebrate the Christmas Holiday may be thinking of decorating and then planting outside a live tree this year. The steps: 1: Pre dug around the roots now before the ground freezes, then cover the area with a straw or hay mulch to prevent ground freezing if purchasing from a Christmas tree dealer. If from a nursery all ready balled and burlaped, place the tree in a cool building like a garage or tool shed. 2: Pre dig a hole where you want to plant the tree after the Christmas season. This hole should be at least 2 x’s as wide as the root ball you have dug around the tree. Fill this hole with straw/hay and cover with a tarp. Also cover well or store indoors the soil you removed to prevent from freezing. 3: Bring in and decorate your tree for the shortest time possible and try to keep the room temperature cool, too hot and dry of a room will possibly “re awaken” the tree into a false spring, then the shock of winter planting will do it some harm. Place the tree in a large tub and keep the root ball moist but not flooded wet. 4: As soon as possible after the holiday, plant the tree in its new outdoor site, remove burlap, plant tree no deeper than when it was previously planted, water in well and keep covered with 4-6 inches of mulch. You may also want to spray on a desiccant to slow down the evaporation of water from its needles. 5: this spring remove the hay mulch, check soil for depressions, re mulch with wood or Bark mulch and keep well watered for this growing season, Enjoy!
Winter is the time to service your garden tools, clean all soil and debris from steel blades of shoves and tools, then apply a light coat of WD-40. Sharpen cutting tools and apply WD-40. Wooden handles may need a light sanding if you left them out in the weather too much then apply a coat of outdoor wood sealer.
Remember to mulch in roses after the ground has frozen to a depth of two inches, this will protect your plants and keep away mice and moles.
Sit back and relax, Garden catalogs are just around the corner in January!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.