In the Midwest, December in the garden is mostly cold, overcast days with a few milder, sunny ones.  Gardens are asleep, but there’s still other activity in the yards.  Such as the visits from our hungry furry friends and feathered friends too.  The winter storms bring with them damaging winds.  If we are fortunate to have enough evergreens, we can trim boughs for holiday décor.  Indoors, we'll need to provide extra care for our house plants.

Take Care of Indoor Plants

As the outside temperatures begin to plummet, indoor heating systems go on more frequently.  This tends to dry out the air in our homes.  Houseplants become thirstier and will need an additional watering during the week.  I move up my watering schedule for houseplants from once a week to twice a week during the winter months. 

Poinsettias dry out quickly and may need to be watered up to three times a week, depending on their location.  The soil store bought Poinsettias are planted in is very light and water will run right through to the bottom.   So, be sure to use trays under your pots to catch water drainage.   Personally, I love to decorate for Christmas using live Poinsettias. 

Don’t fertilize Indoor Plants

The days are shorter now, and plants are resting too.  Save fertilizing for spring or after Standard Time begins when plants are active again.

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Deck the Halls

Fresh cut evergreens brought in and used for holiday décor provide a beautiful, warm and aromatic touch. Just remember that you are essentially pruning your evergreens when you take these clippings. So, make clean cuts at the fork of a branch or a stem, and use your cuts to enhance the overall shape of the evergreen.  Better yet, use any branches that may have been snapped or broken during recent storms.

December in the Garden: Landscape Care

Rather than using sodium chloride or rock salt on driveways and walkways, use calcium chloride, sand, or even kitty litter. It's less harmful to concrete and plants.

December in the Garden: Protect Tender Shrubs from Deer

I love deer, I really do.  I certainly don’t want them to go hungry.  However, I do wish they’d stop munching on a Pee-Gee Hydrangea I planted on the edge of our property.  This shrub should be at least 5’ high by now.  I planted it over four years ago and it’s still only 2’, the size when I planted it!  On an early December morning after a couple of hard freezes, I caught a couple fawn feeding on the poor little thing.  I really need to try and put some protection around it!

I recently piled snow on the poor little hydrangea.  The snow will act as an insulator from the cold winds and ice.  And I hope, make it less enticing to the deer.

December in the Garden: Don't Forget About Our Feathered Friends

There are still many birds that stay here for the winter.  Birds like the chickadee, junco, robin, sparrow, cardinal, house finch, to name a few.  Suet cakes help birds build up warmth during the winter.  So, fill the bird feeders and hang some suet cakes.

That’s all there is for now. Before you go, you might enjoy "November in the Garden".  Until next month, stay warm and enjoy a rest.

I hope you enjoyed the December edition of In the Garden.  

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