December Garden Ramblings
The weather outside has been absolutely delightful! Not rainy, or snowy, or cold, is rather perfectly wonderful. If you have yard chores like raking or pruning to do, or bulb planting, garlic to go in… still time to get it done.
Okay, this changed overnight, we got a wee skiff of wet snow this morning, but luckily hubby mowed the lawn yesterday while it was warm and sunny.
I don’t actually do a lot of what I would call ‘gardening’ in December, or even in January for that matter. This month I putter around everywhere, doing wee bits of bobs in the house, in the yard, the shop, the greenhouse… nothing of great note, things like making homemade gifts, decorating a bit, baking (of course), cleaning and tidying in preparation for the holidays. Next month is when I start dreaming and planning for the gardening year ahead (but more on that in January).
Actual 'Gardening Tasks' You Can Do This Month ….
Cut back your roses. I am not talking about pruning them, leave the fine tuning till late winter, right now you just want to take off the really tall branches as they are apt to break with heavy snow loads or rains, or high winds can cause them to rock the plants so they start to lean and the roots are left bare.
Take your pruners or loppers and take off about 1/3 to 1/2 off of the tops of your plants. Is best if they are pruned to an outward facing bud but don’t worry too much about it, just make sure you take off a bit to keep them safe. If you have time and a nice day, you can also spray with dormant oil and lime sulphur at this time. This will help to prevent/cut back on fungal issues like black spot next summer and smothers out any over-wintering pests, too.
Now is a great time to top dress your beds with manure or compost for winter, if you have not yet done so. You can of course, top dress in spring if you haven’t the time or funds right now. I try to get mine done in late fall or early winter, once the summer crops have been cleared out and the beds weeded. The compost feeds my soil (all those micro organisms), covers and protects the soil, but best of all, I’m ready to plant in spring as soon as the weather allows rather than waiting for a compost delivery. No need to dig it in, just layer it right on top.
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| Hairy bittercress not yet in flower. |
If you are feeling really ambitious, try to do some weeding on nice, sunny days. I know, I totally get it… you are so over it, would prefer to just leave it all till spring… but just a few minutes on a sunny day will really cut down on weeds next summer. I noticed some nasty little hairy bittercress plants growing in a couple of my raised beds. Hairy bittercress might be an innocent looking wee little plant but each one will send out literally hundreds of seeds till you are overrun with weeds! and they start flowering in February!
Keep harvesting your fall and winter veggies of brussels, lettuces, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, leeks, celeriac, beets, carrots, and parsnips…
If you are on the island, plant up some heather in your winter planters for the over-wintering Anna’s hummingbirds and the native bees that will start looking for food sources in February already. The hummers mostly eat bugs in winter (they love fruit flies and fungus gnats!) but also feed from feeders. If you put out feeders and your hummers are used to coming to them, they are counting on you for a food source, try to keep the feeders from freezing, keep them clean and refreshed, use 1 part sugar for 4 parts water. Our native bees, here on Vancouver Island, are active from February through October, so will be looking for early food sources.
Pot up and plant lots of early spring flowers, as well, like crocus, the wee little reticulated irises (the short purple ones blooming in the picture abovc), grape hyacinths, starflowers, English daisies, violas…
Do some winter sowing... sow carrots anytime after the solstice, and all sorts of greens, too.
Mow the lawn to tidy things up on a sunny day, if you want, and rake up the extra leaves from your lawn for your compost bin. Nothing better than leaf mould for your garden beds. Leave the leaves where you can, to feed the soil and offer shelter for the wildlife.
I love our wee little acreage (1.1 acres). We are super lucky to have everything here, including a long, wide strip of au naturel island fauna that runs alongside the westside of the acreage.
This strip of land has arbutus trees, cedars, firs, hemlocks, island shrubbery of salal and mahonia, ocean spray bushes, and whatever else pops up in there. We don’t rake, clean up, remove, or clean out anything from this area (except broom), we just leave it all as is so is just as nature intended. The wee birds, insects, and critters love this area for both food and shelter.
Poinsettias - This popular, traditional Christmas flower adds an instant feeling of holidays and festivities.
Pick up as your last purchase on the way home, pull the plastic sleeve over the plants and fold over to keep the warmth around the plant, place in a warm car, drive straight home so that it does not get too chilly.
To remove from the plastic sleeve, open up the top, push the pot out from the bottom. Do not try to dig it out of the sleeve as the branches are very brittle and break easily.
Poinsettias prefer to be on the dry side, will not fare well if sitting in water. When watering, remove the pot cover (festive party hat), place in sink, water thoroughly, let excess water drain out, place back in party hat, good to go for another week.
Keep away from drafts, both hot and cold. Do not place near heating vents, fireplaces, or in doorways.
Prefers a bright location that is cool-ish in temperature, but is tolerant of low light areas.
Gift Ideas...
Candles made with rosemary and lemon verbena in wee mason jars. Super easy to make with items straight from the garden. Rosemary with orange is also fabulous.
Salves, bath salts, sachets, smudge sticks, and fire starters made with flowers and herbs from the garden are lovely, aromatic gifts. Save your rose petals and small buds, calendula, comfrey, violets, lavender, sage throughout the summer.
If you are growing lemons, you likely have some on your trees right now. Mix them with ginger and local honey for a delicious and healthy anti-flu tea.
Don’t forget about your feathered friends… here’s how to make birdseed wreaths to keep them happy over the holidays and through the winter months.
Dress your stoop...
I am starting to get doorways and planters are readied for the holidays. I keep things pretty simple, very natural with lots of greens so it looks good all winter, even after I remove the bows and Christmassy bits. This photo is not from this year, I am not organized enough this year to have done all this already ; )
The garlands are super easy to make, just take bundles of greenery and tie them onto rope with some garden twine. Just like you would do with the wreaths that I showed you last weekend. Completely biodegradable afterwards, toss it into your compost bin. Not to worry, it will not make your compost acidic. We twisted a strand of lights around the garland for the holidays.
The swags are super easy, much easier than the wreaths, which take a bit more time…. simply take a longer branch or two of evergreens, layer with shorter branches of different coloured evergreens or branches, tie off the bundle with a zap strap, string, or wire. Add bows and baubles according to your decor theme and style.
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