December may seem like a time of rest for the garden, but there is still plenty to do to keep your plants healthy and prepare for the next growing season. We are fortunate to have winter annuals like pansies, snapdragons, evergreen ferns, heuchera, ornamental grasses and ivy that help our containers be colorful and cheerful through the winter months. Be sure to water regularly and use water-soluble fertilizers monthly for healthy plants and bountiful blooms.
Protect your plants from severe cold temperatures. You may need to cover tender plants with freeze cloth or row covers on particularly cold nights. We all remember the dramatically cold temperatures of December 2023. Containers can be moved to an inside basement or garage wall to salvage plants that cannot tolerate severe cold. 2-3 inches of mulch does wonders to help insulate roots in your landscape beds.
Pruning may be done to remove dead or diseased branches. Light pruning may be done to shape your plants. But leave the heavy pruning for late winter to early spring.
Winter is a great time to begin composting. Add fallen leaves, kitchen scraps, and other organic matter to your compost bin. Be sure to turn your compost regularly to speed up the composting process.
Winter is a great time to flip through magazines and catalogs to gain inspiration for your landscape. Start planning for next year’s garden and order seeds and bulbs. Clean and sharpen your garden tools before storing them for the winter months.
Bringing the outdoors inside helps with cabin fever. Christmas trees help bring the aroma of the outdoors into our homes. Woodland fragrances in the form of candles and diffusers are an excellent option for those with artificial trees. Cut branches and greenery for festive displays all winter. Camellias bloom in the colder months and look beautiful floating in a bowl of water. House plants placed strategically throughout the home can bring a sense of the outdoors inside. Be sure to watch your indoor plants’ water needs, as watering may need to be increased while the heat is on.
We hope you will stop by and celebrate the season with us at Scottsdale Farms. Our employees are busy creating wreaths, garlands and greenery arrangements. We also make custom arrangements. Let us know how we can help bring the magic of the season to your home.
