1. Replace summer annuals with winter bloomers if the frost has burned them. Top performers are dianthus, flowering kale, flowering cabbage, pansies, snapdragons, violas, and stock. Add some rich compost and bone and blood meal to the soil to give the new plants a boost.
2. Plant bulbs: Still plenty of time to plant those spring flowering bulbs. Look for narcissus, daffodils, tulips, anemones, ranunculus, jonquils, and muscari.
3. Cut back perennials: If the frost and freezing weather has damaged the tops of your flowering perennials, cut them back to just above ground level and mulch with a compost and pine-bark mix. This will conserve soil moisture and keep roots healthy and warm.
4. Choose a living Christmas tree: This is the season to bring a tree indoors for the holidays. Why not choose one that’s alive … one that you can add to your landscape in January. Some good choices: Allepo pine, Arizona blue-ice cypress, deodar cedar, blue point juniper, and Italian stone pine.
5. Rake leaves: Get outside, do some raking and inhale some of that lovely chilly winter air. Remember if you leave leaves on your lawn, they can damage grass, especially if they become wet.
6. Start a compost pile: Please don’t send those leaves (mentioned in 5) to the landfill. Use them to build a great big compost heap.
7. Move tropical plants inside … or they will die. Mandevilla, plumeria, philodendron, ficus, bougainvillea, and hibiscus will all perish if allowed to freeze. Put them in a garage or a greenhouse, and provide as much light and ventilation as possible; water when dry throughout the winter. If you can’t carry them in, have some row cover (freeze cloth) close at hand.
8. Care for fruit trees: Spray them and look after them. Rake all leaves from around the base as this litter may carry over insects to the spring. Spray with dormant oil to kill scale insects. This should also be done on scale-infested shrubs. Inspect burford holly and euonymous, as they are prone to this.
9. Buy a little rosemary tree (trimmed). They are a delight, and make nice table decorations for Christmas. After the holidays, dig it into your culinary herb garden as a center point.
10. Rest on your laurels: On those super cold days when gardening outside is impossible, curl up by the fire and take stock of your gardening accomplishments for the year… and start thinking of some plans for the New Year. Warmer weather is just around the corner. Happy gardening!
If you have a question, send it to me via email: iathyme@yahoo.com. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748
www.itsaboutthyme.com
