Beverley Square West Association

In the Garden Corner 11-12/08 Vera Julia Gordon

Nov 28, 2008

December: Winter begins officially on December 21, the winter solstice, when it ?“stands still?” before moving back toward the equator. Slowly, imperceptibly, our days begin to lengthen. The soil is cooling, and when temperatures are below 32?° it will start to freeze. However, we will still have above freezing days and nights too so it is still possible to plant sprint-flowering bulbs.
Water expands when it freezes; that is what splits pipes and hoses. So, it is time to turn off the outside water: first, turn it off inside and then turn on the outside controls, and drain out any water and leave the outside control open all winter. Remove spray controls and leave hose ends open. If you have metal or plastic ?“taps?” remove them. Water trapped in them can cause them to split.
It is time to put the snow shovel in an accessible spot, but do not put the rake away yet. It is important to keep the lawn free of leaves to prevent grass damage. However, finely chopped leaves can and should be left on the grass so that the nutrients will go back into the soil.
Purchase ?“ice melt?” but check the label first. Get a product which will not damage grass, concrete or pets' feet. Cleanup is on-going. Take time to clean and oil the garden tools. Outside planters can be put away or tidied and filled with seasonal branches. Keep indoor plants fed and watered. Group them or use humidity trays.
If you buy a holiday tree, have the vendor make a fresh cut, and put the tree in a bucket of water in a cool place such as a garage until you are ready to set it up. Use a tree holder with a large water reservoir. Spray the tree with an anti-desiccant. Also spray greenery which you have in vases. They will stay fresh longer. When you set up the tree, put down an open tree-bag or a tarp. These can be covered with a decorative tree-skirt, but leave access to the reservoir so you can keep it filled. Then, when it is time to take the tree out, with all the decorations removed, remove the skirt and pull up the bag/tarp so you will not have needles all over the floor. When it is outside, remove stand and bag/tarp and save them for next year. Watch for Department of Sanitation mailings about tree disposal.
If you have a live tree, balled in burlap, to plant after its holiday duty, dig the hole now, cover it with boards for safety and cover or remove the dirt so it will not freeze. A live tree should be inside no more than five days so it will remain dormant. Any tree should be kept in a cool spot, and not block exits, and not have its lights on for long periods. Use an in-tree or floorswitch to save your back. Give plants and garden-related gifts. Save the garden catalogs for January reading.
Enjoy your early winter garden. Happy holidays.