Belle Mead Farmers Co-Op
GARDENING TIPS FOR DECEMBER
 | Continue watering rhododendrons and azaleas until the ground freezes. Make sure they are well mulched. |
| Wrap the trunks of young trees( maples, dogwoods) with tree wrap to prevent sunscald and frost cracks. Protect evergreens from drying winter winds with burlap. Upright shrubs( arborvitae, juniper) can be tied with twine to prevent snow damage. |
| Check houseplants frequently for insect pests. Move houseplants away from cold windows and heat vents. |
| Roses can be mulched after the ground freezes with wood chips and dry shredded leaves. |
| Perennials should be mulched after the ground freezes usually at the end of the month. Use evergreen branches(from the Christmas tree!) to cover the plants. This prevents the plants from heaving out of the ground during the freeze/thaw cycle of our zone 6 winters. Prune hollies and evergreens for holiday decorations. Poinsettia care: Remove protective sleeves and foil wraps after bringing the plant home. |
| Poinsettias are easily damaged by cold temperatures, chilly drafts and hot air from heat vents. Keep the soil moist but never soggy. Place the plant near a bright window and lower the room temperature to 60°F at night. |
| Transplanting live Christmas trees: Dig the planting hole early in the month before the ground freezes. Save the soil from the hole in the garage or the basement to keep from freezing. Mulch the hole with straw or grass clippings. Purchase the tree 2 weeks before bringing it into the house. Acclimate the tree to the warm house temperature by gradually moving it to warmer sites over several days. Keep the tree in the house no longer than 1-2 weeks. Keep the root ball moist and mist the foliage. Reacclimate the tree to cold temperatures before planting outside. Plant the tree, water in and eliminate air pockets. Smaller trees will have a better success rate than larger ones. |
| Fresh cut Christmas trees: Select a tree with bright green color. Gently squeeze some needles and check for a fresh aroma. Carefully bend back the ends of some branches to check the flexibility. At temperatures above 20°F the branches should not snap. Bounce the tree on the ground firmly. Avoid trees with excess needle loss. Check the base of the trunk for drops of sap- an indication of a fresh cut tree. Keep the tree in a 5 gal. bucket of water in the basement or garage until ready to trim. Cut 1/4’’ from the trunk before placing in the bucket. The tree stand should hold at least 1 gal. of water. Cut 1/4’’ from the trunk and place tree immediately into the stand with water. Check the water daily. After the holidays plan to recycle your tree. Use the branches as mulch in the garden and the trunk for garden stakes. Or take the tree to a county park to be chipped for mulch. |