Yes, it’s December. Yes, it’s cold and snow is falling somewhere in the U.S. Still, this is no time to ignore your garden. There are things you can do to ensure that your plants survive the winter and that your soil is ready for new plants when spring comes.
First, you may not be aware that December is actually an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs. They establish sooner than they would have if planted in late spring and summer.
December is also a good time to start to prepare your soil for next year. Gather the soil amendments you like to use including compost, old tree bark and manure, peat moss, fertilizer, limestone, and whatever else you’re use to using. Wait until the soil is dry, then break ground and integrate the amendments into the soil. It’s safe to say that you probably won’t plant anything now or in the foreseeable future. Still, the soil will be ready to sustain new plants when the planting season comes.
If you’re an observant person, then you may notice that leaves from your trees are still falling on your lawn as late as December. Before storing your lawn mower for the winter, use it to cut the fallen leaves. You don’t want to leave whole leaves on the lawn because they can cause disease if a thick layer traps moisture and blocks sunlight from the grass. Chopping the leaves up with your mower and letting the remnants work their way down into the soil will help keep things healthy.
If you plan to include bulbs in your gardening plans for 2020, then December is a good time to plant them. You should be happy with the results come spring.
Late December through February is a great time to prune woody trees, shrubs, and fruit trees.
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Tricks To Protect Flora In Winter
Rubbing lime on fruit trees is a good way to protect them from cracking when temperatures vary. The denser the tree, the more susceptible it is to cracking in winter. Use bio paint to protect young trees from frost.
Of course, you will want to protect plants that are actually blooming this time of the year. Cover them at sunset with glass jars to protect them during the night, but be sure to remove the covers in the morning immediately after sunrise. Don’t wait too long to remove the jars in the morning. They generate a lot of heat due to the rays of the sun and can damage plants.
Don’t neglect plants and trees during the coldest days of winter. Continuously remove branches and dry leaves. If you have a heavy snowfall, remove the snow from shrubs quickly so that they stay stable.
(Sources: statesman.com and dumblittleman.com)
