Ask Chris
by CHRIS WINSLOW
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, bone and blood meal to the soil to give the new plants a boost.
2. Plant bulbs: There is 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 compost and pine-bark mixed. This will conserve soil moisture and keep the 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 a living 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, provide as much light and ventilation as possible and 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!
