Gardening Notes for December

The Holiday Season is finally upon us. With all the hustle and bustle that it brings, it is nice to return to the garden for sanity and relaxation. Plus, the garden still needs plenty of work! This is the time of year to properly prepare the garden for winter as autumn bids farewell and the sub-freezing temperatures of winter descend.

Finish removing leaves from lawn areas. If possible, shred the leaves and add to perennial or annual beds as mulch.

Decorate containers remaining outdoors for the winter. Evergreen boughs such as Yew, Pine, Hemlock or fruited Holly branches can be pruned from the garden. Add some white painted birch stems, which many Garden Centers carry, and an attractive and long lasting winter container can be created for patios, entrance walks and front door stoops.

If rain is lacking and the soil has yet to freeze, trees and shrubs that were planted in the autumn should still be watered. This is especially true of evergreens.

Rhododendrons, Holly or other evergreen shrubs that have been recently planted will benefit from an application of an anti-desiccant spray during periods when the temperatures are above freezing for several hours.

Finish cutting back those perennials which have little winter interest, or that can potentially spread seed throughout the garden and become a weed nuisance during next summer.

Pot-up daffodils, tulips or minor bulbs in shallow pots and when evening temperatures consistently are in the teens, place them in the back of an unheated garage for the winter. Water when the soil appears dry. As the shoots begin to appear in February, place them in a sunny but cool window (hopefully in the garage). They will provide nice early color to the kitchen table in March or for outdoor containers in March and April.

For Tea Roses, mulch the graft union with soil, leaves or mulch after the soil has started to freeze. This will ensure that the desired and budded named selection plant will not perish during the winter.

Winterize lawn mowers and other gas-powered equipment. This entails cleaning or replacing of filters and amending the fuel with an additive that will prevent it from becoming more viscous and potentially blocking fuel lines come spring.

Bruce Crawford
Director of Rutgers Gardens

Our experts are always on hand to answer any of your gardening questions, please submit them to rugardens@aesop.rutgers.edu or visit the Rutgers Gardens web site at www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu for additional plant information.