Lawn Care
• Maintain cool season grasses by mowing as needed.
• Keep tree leaves from collecting on your lawn.
Fertilizing
• Spread ashes from the fireplace around gardens and bulb beds where soil pH is below 6.0. Avoid acid-loving plants. (3 lbs of ash = 1 lb of limestone)
• Now is the time to put out limestone if needed (it takes about three months for lime to change the soil’s pH)
• Fertilize houseplants as needed.
Planting
• Now is a good time to set out or transplant landscape plants if the ground isn’t frozen. Be sure to “open up” the root balls on container plants.
Pruning
• Prune berry-producing plants, if berries are desired in table arrangements over the holidays.
• Cut back herbaceous perennials after the frost kills the tops.
• Any dead or diseased wood can be pruned out anytime of the year.
• Weeds or unnecessary trees should be removed from the landscape.
Spraying
• None
Other Activities
• Keep your Christmas tree in water and away from heat sources.
• Poinsettias should be placed in the sunniest room in the house.
• If you have received your soil recommendations, apply lime as suggested. Don’t apply fertilizer until spring.
• Order fruit trees and grape vines now if you wish to plant them in February and March.
• Cover strawberries with pine straw or wheat barley to protect them from the cold.
• Continue putting the leaves from your yard into a compost bin.
• If you cover your shrubs, be cautious and use only burlap or white plastic.