The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

December Gardening

December, with the shortest days, and frigid winter air, has most of us more concerned about eggnog than about gardening. While the list of gardening "things to do" in December suggests "do nothing," there are chores that benefit the garden and nature just now.

A garden catalog might be the closest thing to gardening now, and it is a time for wishing and planning. At Rock Cottage, December is a month for placing summer bulb and plant orders. (We typically forget about what was ordered, so the arrival of boxes in April and May provides one surprise after another.)

East End gardeners can use this time - when leaves have fallen - to search for and eradicate spring pests. December is a good month to look for insect egg masses and other signs of trouble on trees and shrubs. Spraying trees with insecticidal oil spray in December (and again in February) will remove many of these pests. The oil spray also protects water evaporation on plants, and is especially good on rhododendrons and azaleas. A diluted mixture of creosote painted or sprayed on egg masses also works, as the creosote destroys the eggs and offers some lingering protection.

Winter rains provide some plant benefit, but plants and shrubs growing beneath large evergreens or near the eaves of a house can be dry at this time of year. Lack of water in winter months is fatal to plants. Check plants continually and provide water if they are dry (this is especially true for any of the fall transplants that may have been added to the garden.)

For those who have brought plants indoors for winter, it is important to keep them moist and with as much light as possible. Geraniums will become leggy this time of year, and should be pruned back to spark new growth. Give them as much bright light as possible. Check houseplants and other garden plants that have been brought indoors for insects. Warm indoor heat promotes rapid pest multiplication - especially spider mites.

Glossy leaved house plants such as philodendrons and rubber plants should be sponged off periodically. Plants that have fuzzy, textured, non-glossy leaves can be set into a shower and sprayed gently with room temperature water to clear away dust. Plants can be grouped together to provide an extra margin of humidity, or can be set on a leak-proof tray filled with moistened pebbles.

Holiday plants will remain beautiful for many weeks if they are kept on the cool side (65-70 degrees during the day, and 55-60 at night). Place them in bright, natural light whenever possible, and keep them away from direct heat sources and drafts. If they are kept cool and moist, the blooms should continue through January.

December is a good month to take the cuttings or rhododendrons, azaleas, and other shrubs. Cuttings can be taken from new tip growth, and kept in bright light at about 70 degrees F. Place the cuttings in wet sand to provide a medium that will spark growth of roots and prepare these cuttings for spring planting.

One of the problems of winter is all the salt that is used on roadways and walkways. Several steps can be taken to protect landscape plants from winter salt damage. Salt is harmful to plants and also corrosive to things like concrete. An obvious solution is to use less damaging materials, or less salt. Materials such as kitty litter and sand do not melt ice, but provide better traction. Ashes from the fireplace - because they contain natural salt minerals - provide better traction on icy surfaces and may also provide some melting power. A mixture of one of these at a rate of five parts material to one part salt is effective and less damaging to plants and soil.

Remember to keep bird feeders filled at this time of year, especially when there is snow on the ground. While a bird's feathers are excellent protection, birds simply cannot survive for long without sustenance. We also have a place in the yard where we deposit scraps of vegetables and food. This little spot has become a feeding area for foxes, raccoons, squirrels, and other small, forest beasties. We believe it is a caring practice to use the scraps to sustain our wildlife on the East End.

Most of all, December is a time to ponder the luck one has had to live in the beautiful East End environment. Enjoy it, protect it, and share it.

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.

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