December Gardening Tips by David Barkley

Click here to return to the Gardening page

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"

Holiday plant care is very important now if you want to preserve the beauty of poinsettias and other Christmas plants. Remember, they are actively growing plants unlike many of your other house plants that have been brought in to rest after their peak growing season. Keep them watered (moist to touch) and provide them with enough light to continue their growth. Avoid cold or hot air drafts.

Christmas trees can be used as landscape trees after Christmas if they are properly cared for while in the home during the holidays. Too much or too little water are common problems associated with "Christmas Tree Shortlife." Also, keeping the area near the tree too hot will cause the needles to dry out and fall off. Try having the decorated tree in the house for only a minimum time and plant it as soon after Christmas as possible.

What kills plants?

Answer: Mostly planting too deep, underwatering, overwatering and overfertilizing practices. Sometimes new plantings are sensitive to cold damage in the winter. Extra care may be needed to get the newly establishing plants through a cold winter. Mulches help and so do some of the wraps. Better yet, make sure they are planted in the right location.


Back to the top