December Gardens
Ahhhhhhhhhhh what a wonderful December this has been. Warmer than usual days and lots of sunshine. A little short on rainfall but hopefully we will get some form of moisture in the near future. Make sure you pay attention to your newly planted bulbs as well as this seasons newly planted shrubs and trees. As many of you have purged your water systems a while back, a garden hose may need to be brought into action. You may also want to pay attention to plants that are under eves as well as under dense evergreen trees. If you have not yet fertilized your landscape and lawn the time is still perfect. Using our “Cold Climate” as well as our “Cascade Natural” will ensure a spectacular take-off in the spring of 2009. We (Redmond Greenhouse) still have plenty of bags of this great organic fertilizer as well as stock of “dormant” spray, “copper” spray and lots of the deer repellent “Deer Off”. We still have a few flower bulbs such as tulips and daffodils, and maybe even a few crocus and “Crown Imperial”…… On the holiday side we have increased our inventory of living Christmas trees if that is a “green” direction that you are thinking about. In articles I read within our industry, the sale and interest in living trees is way up. Members of the spruce family offer the best choice in terms of hardiness, drought and deer resistance, and livability. An application of “Wilt-Proof” will offer additional protection from dehydration as well as reduce allergies. Works great on cut trees and wreaths as well. Don’t mulch in your roses to much until the ground is ‘well” frozen (probably January some time) as this practice could trap in heat thus increasing the probability of winter loss. Over in the water garden make sure you have a pond heater in use as it will allow toxic gasses to escape. You might also want to put in some of Microbe Lifts “Winterizer”. Many folks have used this with great success in reducing algae and “pond bottom” debris. Keep your bird bath heater working as winter is one of toughest times for wild birds to find water. Just remember…………. a bird in the winter garden is a bug you won’t see in the spring…………….. Happy Winter……….. Doug
