Published: December 05, 2008 10:46 am            

Much can be done in the garden in December

By Pat Kriener

special to the times-review



I know we complain about the heat in the summer, but as gardeners living in North Texas we never really have to stop gardening because of bad weather except for a week or even a few days here and there.

I talk to my father-in-law in Iowa, and the temperatures there have not reached above 40 for weeks.

So like any Texan, I told him about our 65 to 80 degree days with a few cold snaps in between. As gardeners we are so lucky.

zx This is a great time to plan and create a new landscape.

zx Plant trees, trees and more trees.

zx Wildflowers — I know many of you planted wildflower seed mixes in the fall and are wondering why they have not come up. Several varieties do come up as seedlings in the fall, but others need the cooler weather to sprout, and other varieties may need additional rain. I know you have heard about seeds that do not sprout for years until conditions are just right. This is why we seed wildflowers every spring and fall because between the birds, mice and squirrels and weather conditions it sometimes seems like a miracle to have a dense wildflower garden in the spring.

zx Container Plants — Searching for new and different container ideas can be lots of fun. Take a friend antique shopping, shop the garage sales, or search your own cabinets, and you will be amazed at how many creative containers you can find. Here are a few ideas from the kitchen alone: old stock pots, coffee pots, tea pots, gelatin molds, bread pans, strainers, flour sifters and teacups.

zx Annuals — Allysum, cyclamens, dianthus, English daisy, mums, pansies, primrose, stock, violas and more. Plant in front of existing perennials when you can to hide plants as they die back.

zx Perennials — Mulch at least two to three inches. Deadhead but do not cut back until we have had at least two hard frosts. Pot tender ones if they are not too big and bring inside.

zx Roses — EarthKind roses are still in the garden centers. Top dress and mulch existing roses. It’s also a good time to transplant roses if you need to move them. Stop deadheading to obtain rose hips for teas and jams.

zx Bulbs — Forcing bulbs is always a favorite winter gardening project for paperwhites, amaryllis and calla lilies. Create your own by planting paperwhite bulbs in a glass bowl or container filled with rocks and water. Add water, keep in dim light until first green shows, then place in bright light.

zx Herbs — Being an herbalist and an avid gardener, I want everyone to have herbs in their yards for the simple reason they are a multipurpose landscape plant. The next time you need a five foot evergreen shrub, think about using rosemary. It blooms, smells great and has many culinary and medicinal uses. Make a rosemary wreath by cutting your rosemary back about six to 12 inches depending on how big your rosemary is and how large a wreath you want. Never cut back more than a third of the plant. Wrap groups of three stems or more together with wire, then attach each group to a wire ring starting at 3 o’clock, and work your way around until the wreath is full.

zx Vegetable Garden — Start planning your spring gardens with catalogs that should start arriving soon. Circle your seed picks and give the catalog to someone who is looking for a gift for you. Vegetables to plant: hardy (low 20s), beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, collards, garlic, kale, onions, leeks and shallots; moderately hardy (mid- to low 20s), Swiss chard, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, turnips and spinach; and less hardy (protect under 28 degrees), broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, English peas, snow peas and pod peas. Information on plant hardiness can be found in Dale Groom’s “Month-By-Month Gardening in Texas.” Clean up beds, add compost, and cover with mulch.

zx Fruits and nuts — plant B and B, bare root and container grown. Existing plants mulch and top dress.

zx Lawn — Don’t bag those leaves; mulch them for fertilizer or place in compost

zx Greenhouse — Cut heating costs by using black barrels or buckets filled with water to create solar heating in the greenhouse. The black barrel will create heat, and the water inside will help hold the heat so the temperatures do not drop as rapidly. Keeping the lid closed will hold the heat in longer, but open the barrels if humidity is needed. Also they make it handy for quick watering.

zx Problems — To learn more about plant diseases and pests contact your local extension agent, master gardener or garden center.

zx Compost Bin — Throw all clippings, leaves, vegetable and garden waste in compost bin. Top-dress all beds and trees with compost; it’s a wonderful slow release fertilizer.

zx If you haven’t put new mulch down, this is a great time. Pull existing mulch back and cover beds with newspaper, at least 12 sheets thick, and cover with at least three inches of mulch.

zx Watering — Water in a seven-day cycle if we do not get any rain.

zx Rainwater — Even in the winter we receive enough rain and mild enough temperatures to collect rainwater to use in our beds and for our many houseplants. Put out buckets to catch rainwater. For more information on using rainwater wisely visit twri.tamu.edu/newsletters/TexasWaterSavers/tws-v3n2.pdf

zx In the spirit of sharing send a card to one of your favorite gardeners and include a gardening tip. Ask him or her to pass it on by sending a card to another gardener with another tip just for the fun of it. All the best gardening tips I ever learn are from other gardeners who were willing to share a little knowledge.

Happy holidays everyone!

For more information on gardening visit www.jcmga.org or call Pat Kriener at 817-793-4625.



The information contained in this

article is for educational purposes only. References to products and trade names are for identification only and do not imply endorsement or criticism of similar products by

Johnson County Master Gardener

Association or

the Texas Cooperative Extension.



Pat Kriener is a Johnson County Master Gardener and a Wildbunch Writer from Crowley.

        

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