Gardening Tips by John Begeman: December Gardening Calendar

	Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information *Gardening Tips by John Begeman*


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Index : December Gardening Calendar

1. Select a Christmas tree

2. Keep Christmas trees fresh

3. Pep up your house plants

4. Control cabbage worms

5. Keep poinsettias healthy

6. Pick exposed lemons and limes

7. Cap cold sensitive cacti

8. Care for winter ryegrass

1. Select a Christmas tree - Top

When selecting a Christmas tree, make sure it's fresh. Gently grasp a branch with you thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Few, if any needles should come off in your hand. Tap the cut end of the trunk on the ground. If lots of needles fall off, choose another tree. - Updated: June 19, 2002

2. Keep Christmas trees fresh - Top

Keep Christmas trees fresh by cutting an inch or so off the bottom of the trunk after purchase to open the water conducting tissue to allow for water uptake. Always keep an adequate supply of water in the Christmas tree stand. A do-it-yourself tree preservative can be made by mixing one 12 ounce can of a lemon-lime soft drink like Sprite or 7up, and two tablespoons on household bleach in one gallon of water. For prolonged life, keep your tree out of hot locations such as south or west-facing windows or near fireplaces. - Updated: June 19, 2002

3. Pep up your house plants - Top

Pep up your house plants by repotting them into slightly larger containers. Use a high quality potting soil. Shorter days and lower light intensity require indoor plants be moved to brighter locations. Setting plants by table or floor lamps at night will also help provide much needed light. Reduce the amount of water and fertilizer your plants receive, too much of either can harm winter-inactive plants. - Updated: June 19, 2002

4. Control cabbage worms - Top

Control cabbage worms eating holes in cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower by applying a spray of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.T.), also sold under the name Dipel or Thuricide. B.T. is will not harm animals or humans, but is deadly to caterpillars. After ingestion, the worms stop feeding almost immediately, but they may live on shortly until they starve to death. - Updated: June 19, 2002

5. Keep poinsettias healthy - Top

Keep poinsettias healthy by locating them away from drafts and direct sunlight. They prefer bright, indirect light during the day and a cool location at night. Keep the soil evenly moist, over or under watering will cause the leaves to yellow and drop off. Fertilize monthly with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer. After all danger of frost has past, poinsettias can be planted outside in a shady location. - Updated: June 19, 2002

6. Pick exposed lemons and limes - Top

Pick exposed lemons and limes just before a hard freeze. Some damage to these fruits, especially the ones on the upper and outer portions of the tree, will occur when temperatures drop to 28 degrees. Other types citrus fruit can tolerate colder temperatures. - Updated: June 19, 2002

7. Cap cold sensitive cacti - Top

Cap cold sensitive cacti, such as totem pole, golden barrel, and young saguaro. Placing a cap over the top of these cacti using a paper grocery bag or Styrofoam cup will protect the delicate growing tip from the cold. After the freeze, remove the cap, but have it handy to use again during cold spells. - Updated: June 19, 2002

8. Care for winter ryegrass - Top

Care for winter ryegrass lawns by fertilizing them every month with ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) or a complete lawn fertilizer. Apply 2 pounds of fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn area. Water on an as-needed basis. Generally, this is once a week, but in the cold weather the lawn may not need watering more than once every two weeks. Irrigate in the morning. This will allow the grass blades to dry off rapidly and help discourage fungus diseases. - Updated: June 19, 2002

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: 1. Select a Christmas tree; 2. Keep Christmas trees fresh; 3. Pep up your house plants; 4. Control cabbage worms; 5. Keep poinsettias healthy; 6. Pick exposed lemons and limes; 7. Cap cold sensitive cacti; 8. Care for winter ryegrass

1. Select a Christmas tree - Top: When selecting a Christmas tree, make sure it's fresh. Gently grasp a branch with you thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Few, if any needles should come off in your hand. Tap the cut end of the trunk on the ground. If lots of needles fall off, choose another tree. - Updated: June 19, 2002

2. Keep Christmas trees fresh - Top: Keep Christmas trees fresh by cutting an inch or so off the bottom of the trunk after purchase to open the water conducting tissue to allow for water uptake. Always keep an adequate supply of water in the Christmas tree stand. A do-it-yourself tree preservative can be made by mixing one 12 ounce can of a lemon-lime soft drink like Sprite or 7up, and two tablespoons on household bleach in one gallon of water. For prolonged life, keep your tree out of hot locations such as south or west-facing windows or near fireplaces. - Updated: June 19, 2002

3. Pep up your house plants - Top: Pep up your house plants by repotting them into slightly larger containers. Use a high quality potting soil. Shorter days and lower light intensity require indoor plants be moved to brighter locations. Setting plants by table or floor lamps at night will also help provide much needed light. Reduce the amount of water and fertilizer your plants receive, too much of either can harm winter-inactive plants. - Updated: June 19, 2002

4. Control cabbage worms - Top: Control cabbage worms eating holes in cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower by applying a spray of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.T.), also sold under the name Dipel or Thuricide. B.T. is will not harm animals or humans, but is deadly to caterpillars. After ingestion, the worms stop feeding almost immediately, but they may live on shortly until they starve to death. - Updated: June 19, 2002

5. Keep poinsettias healthy - Top: Keep poinsettias healthy by locating them away from drafts and direct sunlight. They prefer bright, indirect light during the day and a cool location at night. Keep the soil evenly moist, over or under watering will cause the leaves to yellow and drop off. Fertilize monthly with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer. After all danger of frost has past, poinsettias can be planted outside in a shady location. - Updated: June 19, 2002

6. Pick exposed lemons and limes - Top: Pick exposed lemons and limes just before a hard freeze. Some damage to these fruits, especially the ones on the upper and outer portions of the tree, will occur when temperatures drop to 28 degrees. Other types citrus fruit can tolerate colder temperatures. - Updated: June 19, 2002

7. Cap cold sensitive cacti - Top: Cap cold sensitive cacti, such as totem pole, golden barrel, and young saguaro. Placing a cap over the top of these cacti using a paper grocery bag or Styrofoam cup will protect the delicate growing tip from the cold. After the freeze, remove the cap, but have it handy to use again during cold spells. - Updated: June 19, 2002

8. Care for winter ryegrass - Top: Care for winter ryegrass lawns by fertilizing them every month with ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) or a complete lawn fertilizer. Apply 2 pounds of fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn area. Water on an as-needed basis. Generally, this is once a week, but in the cold weather the lawn may not need watering more than once every two weeks. Irrigate in the morning. This will allow the grass blades to dry off rapidly and help discourage fungus diseases. - Updated: June 19, 2002

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