Did a whole weekend pass without gardening? Almost. I got the garlic and strawberries mulched! A few tasks can be done whenever it is convenient in the next few weeks. The rapid drop in temperatures and dusting of snow have put this gardener off any outdoor activity.
Indoors, I made a fun discovery when I watered my poinsettia plant from 2023. If, like me, you saved a poinsettia from last Christmas, the change in light may have prompted the leaves to turn red again! You might be disappointed if you keep poinsettias from year to year, expecting beautiful red bracts of leaves. Greenhouses have regimented programs and feeding schedules to develop the poinsettias we find at florists and garden centers. If I start fertilizing my poinsettia in earnest, it may still put on a show.
For those who want to “get out there,” either as an excuse to get outside or to fix the view out the window, the landscape could still use your attention.
Don’t go crazy with pruning. Unless there is severe damage to a tree or shrub, don’t cut more than a third of a branch from the tip toward the main stem. If you have two leading stems or trunks developing in a young tree, it is best to choose one and prune the other back as far as possible. This encourages the remaining leader to grow stronger.
While you continue to scout for patches of spongy moth egg masses or spotted lanternfly, you may notice lichen and moss. These patches on trunks of mature trees usually appear on the shadier or damper side. Lichen is a unique growth, like a cross between algae and moss. Lichen does not indicate disease. However, lichen will form more easily on older trunks and branches that grow slowly.
I have put out the posts and supports for my birdfeeders without adding the feeders or seed. After this week of freezing temperatures, I think it may be safe to set out seed without worrying about bear visits. However, at the first hint of bear activity, I will bring feeders inside—especially at night. I also leave bits of twine from my staked asparagus or raspberries near the open garden beds or draped on branches. The all-natural jute twine would compost, but if I leave bits around, they may end up in a bird’s nest!
Also, notice shrubs that still have fruit. My winterberry had fruit in early October, but the birds found the berries. Now I only have winterberry stems. Cotoneaster and holly bear red fruits now, too. Low-growing, fruit-filled horizontal branches of cotoneaster have attracted chickadees close to my picture windows in the winter. I am happy they still have some berries to enjoy.
Another lazy gardener move: I have stored away my larger garden tools, trugs, soils, forks, and trowels, but I have kept the spade, rock shovel, pruners, chainsaw, and gloves handy. Winter often brings sudden damage to my shrubs or trees, not to mention the ice that can build up on the walks and driveway. Since I am lazy, I would put off digging out the stored gardening equipment. By keeping these tools convenient, I will be more likely to fix winter damage immediately and prevent future problems.
We now have a few months to tackle the landscape tasks best performed when plants have gone dormant for winter. Remove dead stems of hardy perennials. Clear leaves off deciduous shrubs. By clearing this dead plant tissue, either to the compost pile or trash, you help reduce potential pathogens in your gardens.
For the truly diligent, and especially if you have experience with this, start to spray repellents on shrubs or trees that deer have sampled in the past. Hungry deer will eat most plants. They aren’t that hungry yet. However when snow gets deeper and grass disappears, green leaves and tender young shrub stems may be the best dinner around.
If the weather forecast is truly horrific, take some time to do indoor organizing of extra seeds and reusable twine. I will clear out garden pockets of trash or bits of wire that never seemed to make it into the trash, because you know, “just in case I needed it.”
I have mixed feelings about December. The days get shorter and darker. I miss the sun, flowers, and fresh warm breezes. I don’t miss the insects, heat, humidity, and many pests during warm weather. I try to remember that now is a time of rest for my gardens and myself. Give yourself some gentle appreciation by visiting a greenhouse. You will enjoy some warmth, light humidity, and the gardener’s favorite aroma: moist earth.
I call myself the Lazy Berkshire Gardener because I don’t want to work too hard in my gardens. I want to enjoy them. I find it easier to observe my landscape and let the compost happen, the water pool up, or daisies to self-sow. I look for ways to do the minimum task for the biggest impact. For example, mulching is better than spraying and much better than weeding all season. I look for beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive in or at least tolerate my garden conditions. Plus, I am willing to live with the consequences if I miss something.
