December Gardening Tips

Lawn & Turf

• Remove leaves from cool-season grasses or mow with a mulching mower.

• Continue mowing coolseason lawns on a regular basis.

• Continue to control broadleaf weeds in well-established warm- or cool-season lawns with a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer.

Tree & Shrubs

• Select a freshly cut Christmas tree. Make a new cut prior to placing in tree stand. Add water daily.

• Live Christmas trees are a wise investment, as they become permanent additions to the landscape after the holidays.

• Light prunings of evergreens can be used for holiday decorations. Be careful with sap that can mar surfaces.

Flowers

• Apply winter mulch to protect rose bush bud unions and other perennials. Wait until after several early freezes or you will give insects a good place to winter.

• Poinsettias must have at least six hours of bright, indirect light daily. Keep plants away from drafts.

• Watch for and control pests on indoor houseplants.

• Make sure indoor plants are receiving enough light or set up an indoor fluorescent plant light.

Fruits & Nuts

• Cover strawberry plants with a mulch about 3-4 inches thick if plants are prone to winter injury.

• Wait to prune fruit trees until late February or March.

General

• Keep all plants watered during dry conditions even though some may be dormant. Irrigate all plantings at least 24 hours before hardfreezing weather if soil is dry.

• Order gardening supplies for next season.

• Now is a great time to design and make structural improvements in your garden and landscape.

• Send for mail-order catalogs if you are not already on their mailing lists.

• Christmas gift ideas for the gardener might include tools, garden books, magazine subscriptions or membership to The Botanic Garden at OSU.

• Clean and fill bird feeders.

• Till garden plots without a cover crop to further expose garden pests to harsh winter conditions.

• Visit your county extension office to obtain gardening fact sheets for the new gardening season.

• Join a horticulture, plant or urban forestry society and support community “greening” or “beautification” projects.

Oklahoma Grown Christmas Trees

The best way to ensure that you are getting a fresh Christmas tree is to buy one directly from one of the many Christmas tree farms in Oklahoma. Each one offers a different experience, but one that is always a fun and memorable one for the family. Some of the farms offer more than just Christmas trees – wreaths, garland, table decorations and gifts may be available too. To make the experience more memorable, some also offer free hot cider, hot chocolate, coloring books and candy canes as well as children’s activities.

The Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association web site, www.okchristmastrees.com, provides a list of farms currently selling Christmas trees as well as other information; currently there are 15 locations listed on the website. These Oklahoma grown trees are beautiful, fresh, green Christmas trees which were carefully planted and nurtured for years specifically for you this Christmas.

Once you get your live tree home, it should be placed in water as soon as possible so it won’t dry out. A tree purchased from a Choose & Cut farm should be placed in water as soon as you get home. Do not let the stump dry out or you will have to make a fresh cut. A new tree will take up quite a bit of water the first few days so be sure to check the container or tree stand frequently and keep it full of water. Never let your tree get dry or it quickly becomes a hazard.