Gardening Tip of the Week- 8th December

08/12/2012 , 9:29 AM by Peter Riley

Christmas is just around the corner and John Gabriele has some last minute tips to get your tree in the best shape possible. Take a listen below….

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As the cold weather sets in and people step up their feeding of garden birds, the RSPB warns the residents of Berkshire about hidden hazards in some bird food packaging and gives some tips on how best to look after our feathered friends this winter.

The charity’s wildlife enquiries team receives a number of calls each year from gardeners reporting deaths or injuries to birds after they’ve become tangled up in the mesh or netting surrounding the food that’s been left out for them. Surprisingly, the netting that surrounds fat balls, peanuts and seed sold for bird food is one of the most dangerous things that can be put out in our gardens.

Despite suggesting they must be safe to wildlife because of the way they’re sold, the mesh and netting can easily trap birds’ feet and beaks, causing severe injury or even death. The RSPB recommends removing the food from the netting and transferring to a safe and suitable feeder.

Many suppliers of bird food now stock products without these potential death traps, but unfortunately, some have not followed suit and are still using these dangerous and unnecessary plastic mesh wrappers. Not only can they cause injury or worse to wild birds but they are just one more hazardous item of plastic to go into landfill.

With forecasts of snow and ice in the lead-up to Christmas, it’s now more important than ever to feed and water your garden birds, says the RSPB. Natural food sources have begun to dwindle, plants may become covered with snow, berry crops are coming to an end, and lakes, rivers and ponds are freezing over.

The RSPB suggests calorie-rich foods like mixed seed, nyjer seed, fatballs, suet sprinkles, sunflower seed and peanuts as well as kitchen scraps, like mild grated cheese, rice and porridge oats. A supply of water is also essential for bathing and preening. In freezing conditions birds will become more dependent on water provided in gardens, since many natural sources of water are frozen over.

The most effective way to keep the water in your garden from freezing is to pop in a light ball that will be moved by even a gentle breeze and keep a small amount of water ice free – a ping-pong ball is ideal.  Alternatively, pour on hot water to melt the ice to make sure the birds can get to it.

Pike Nurseries’ Melodie McDanal visited Good Day Atlanta Friday to talk about December Gardening.

In the Garden
– Decorate for Christmas – Put up fresh, fragrant wreaths and garland, and wrap your house in Christmas lights
– Add Color – There’s still time to add flower color to your garden and containers. Plant pansies, hardy cyclamen, Helleborus Gold Collection and more
– Bulbs – This is your last chance to plant spring blooming bulbs like hyacinths, crocus and tulips. Plant bulbs pointy side up
– Prune for Décor – Prune evergreen plants like holly, magnolia, dogwood and more. Use the cuttings in your table arrangement or mantel décor

In the House
– Christmas Tree – Get your Christmas tree now.
– Poinsettias Christmas Cactus – Decorate with poinsettias and Christmas cactus throughout your home. Avoid putting plants near drafty areas or near a heat source

For the Birds
– Food sources for birds are more limited this time of year
– Place bird feeders throughout your yard
– Bird suet is especially good this time of year since it packs lots of nutrients – it’s like a powerbar for the birds

Click here for more information.

The fragrant white flowers of the hardy Sarcococca makes it an ideal plant to brighten up the garden and the house in winter.

Flowering from December through to March it tolerates shade and exposed conditions and can be a welcome burst of green to an otherwise bare landscape.

Grown against a wall the stylish evergreen Garrya Elliptica brings a sense of drama to any winter garden. Tolerating full sun to partial shade, its glossy grey-green leaves make an excellent summer foil, but the real joy of this shrub are the long hanging catkins that blossom during winter. ‘James Roof’ is a particularly good specimen with catkins reaching up to 30cm.

Other plants to consider which extend winter interest include Callicarpa with its brilliant purple berries, the traditional red berries of holly, the bright orange hues of pyracantha Navajo berries, soft winter heather and the brightly coloured stems provided by Dogwoods, such as Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’.

Pick up these winter show stoppers at Hare Hatch Sheeplands, London Road Hare Hatch, Reading, RG10 9HW

See more gardening tips

Question

I have an Xmas cactus that is on my front porch facing east. It is covered in heavy bud, but each year when I bring it into the house all the buds fall off.

How can I save the buds so it will flower?

Madeleine McTaggart by email

Answer

Your Christmas cactus is suffering from low humidity in your house and the buds fall because they dry out.

If you have a cooler room to put it in and can mist it once a day with plain water the buds will hold better.

Once your Christmas cactus begins flowering, you can bring it into a warmer area where you should mist it twice a day to give it extra humidity.

If the buds still fall, increase the number of times you do the misting.

If you don’t have a cooler room for your plant, just do extra misting from the outset.

Putting a Christmas cactus by an open window also helps because outside air is much more humid than warm house air.

Question

I have an indoor azalea that I planted outside for the summer.

What is the procedure for bringing it inside and making it flower?

Christine, by email

Answer

Indoor azaleas don’t tolerate frost so it should be brought inside immediately and potted up in some acidic soil.

This should be half to one-third peat plus a handful of perlite or grit.

The reason indoor azaleas drop buds and leaves is because regular house temperatures are too hot, the air is too dry and people don’t usually water and mist them enough.

These azaleas also need bright light but not sunshine. A cool basement or unheated porch would be a good place for it.

The soil should be kept moist but not swampy and fed with an acidic fertilizer once or twice a month. In a cool spot, daily misting might be enough.

Keeping it outside for summer is a good first step towards flowering. But last year’s bloom may have been forced and, if so, the plant could be exhausted and need to rest for a year.

Young shrubs often focus on stem and leaf growth. Just prune for shape where needed.

My parents kept a pink-flowered indoor azalea for years in an unheated, cool and drafty storage area.

They didn’t fuss over it. But conditions resembled the frost-free woodlands where these azaleas originated.

It grew huge and bloomed every year.

Anne Marrison is happy to answer gardening questions. Send them to her via email a amarrison@shaw.ca. See www.burnabynow.com for her past columns.

What do you need to do in the garden this month? With all the holiday activities, it leaves little time to do much gardening, but don’t let holiday fun totally divert your attention. You can make your own wreaths from your garden, give unusual gifts and care for those holiday plants.

There are still some things to do to make your gardening easier come spring. Many plants still require some attention, especially if there is an unexpected cold snap; you’ll need to protect your frost-tender plants.

Christmas wreaths: Make your own Christmas wreaths from plants in your garden. Let your imagination run wild. Gather branches from your evergreens, berry plants, vines and ground covers and arrange them to fit the setting in your home. Add pinecones, interesting seedpods, fragrant herbs and spices to the design. You’ll love them because you designed it.

Garden gifts: Learn how to make garden gifts from your garden at 8:30 a.m. today at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. You’ll create and take home fragrant wreaths and swag, too. Call 822-7700 for more information.

Other ideas: Are you stumped for what to give the folks on your gift list? Gardening tools and gloves are hot items and will prevent blisters for a long time.

Does it always have to be a tool? What about a houseplant, tree, shrub or even a packet of zucchini seeds? Maybe your friends like to read. Give them garden books or a subscription to a garden magazine and they will thank you all year long.

Nurseries are loaded with gift ideas: a sturdy trowel, digging fork, spade and maybe a caliche bar. Always welcome: kneepads for the aged, straw hats or other accessories to take the strain out of gardening. Note the many new organic pesticides now on the shelves. Nurseries are not as crowded, so they’ll have more time to assist you.

Light your walkway: Try making your own luminaries to place along your walkway. Put an inch of sand in sandwich bags to stabilize them and to hold your candles upright to distribute along your walkway. The flickering candles add so much to your nighttime landscape.

Poinsettias: To keep poinsettias lasting longer, select those with deep green leaves and the center yellow flowers just opening. Protect them from cold drafts while taking them home. Place them near a sunny window and away from air vents and keep the soil moist.

Dream books: Catalogs have always been a stimulant for avid gardeners. Use them to plan your next garden. Those colorful pictures with those perfect vegetables hanging all over them cause you to forget last year’s difficulties.

Frost potential: If we get an unexpected frost, cover your sensitive plants with cloth, burlap or cardboard boxes in the late afternoon. Leave coverings on until it warms back up the next day. Avoid using plastic tarps; it gets 10 degrees colder under the plastic.

Press flowers: Try pressing flowers. Select those just opening. Place them between pages of your phone book and place a heavy object on the book while drying takes place. The pressed flowers will last for years.

For planting: Bulbs catalogs are now flooding our mailboxes. Consider getting cannas, gladiolus, caladium, iris, oxalis, sweet potato, potatoes and dahlia. They love a rich, highly organic soil and working it now will mellow it for next spring. If nurseries still have spring flowering bulbs, plant them.

Bare-root fruit trees and roses begin arriving at your nursery this month. Plant them immediately.

Citrus: Begin harvesting grapefruit and lemons. If you have citrus, be concerned about those freezing nights. It kills next year’s fruit buds.

Perennials: Plant more perennials for long-lasting color. Consider these for this spring: asparagus fern, dusty Miller, gaillardia, gazania marguerite daisy, Peruvian verbena, santolina and stocks.

Roses: Don’t be afraid to rogue out those you don’t like. Avoid fertilizing them until after you prune in January.

Clean up: Good sanitation is the best way to destroy those hiding insects and their breeding locations. Pull, hoe or spot-treat weeds with a contact herbicide as they appear or you’ll be a sorry weeder for several years.

Birds: Attract our feathered friends to your garden this winter by providing seeds and water for them. There are many unusual birds still hanging around during the winter.

Pruning: Begin pruning deciduous trees as the leaves drop. If you prune too soon, diseases may enter trees.

Linn Mills’ garden column appears on Sundays. You can reached him at liinmillslv@gmail.com or call him at 526-1495.

George Weigel’s Winter Season Tip of the Week video: How to Pick a Fresh Christmas Tree… and Keep It That Way
The Christmas-tree season comes early this year, thanks to the earliest-possible arrival of Thanksgiving Day. That means you’ll have to pay extra special attention to getting a fresh tree if you want it to have needles by Christmas. George Weigel shows you how in this week’s video. Video by Christine Baker/The Patriot-News
Watch video

By

GEORGE WEIGEL

The Patriot-News

on November 21, 2012 at 8:41 AM, updated November 29, 2012 at 3:09 PM

Brought to you by

The Christmas-tree season comes early this year, thanks to the earliest-possible arrival of Thanksgiving Day. That means you’ll have to pay extra special attention to getting a fresh tree if you want it to have needles by Christmas.

George Weigel shows you how in this week’s video.

For more garden tips, check out the links below.

• Fig tree not bearing any fruit
• Is evening primrose a flower or a weed?
• Check out more gardening tips and tricks »

Look for George Weigel’s Garden Tip of the Week each Thursday. George Weigel is the garden writer for the Patriot-News and also owner of a garden-consulting business for do-it-yourselfers, garden-tour host, frequent garden speaker, Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist and certified gardening nut.

Related Stories

George Weigel’s Winter Season Tip of the Week: How to choose a Christmas tree

Christmas Gift Guide: Nab an album from a midstate musician

The aroma of a cut Christmas tree certainly adds to the holiday season. But if safety is not a part of decorating and maintaining your tree, the outcome could be deadly.

Here are a few ideas to help prevent fires:

Always keep water around the trunk of the tree.

Keep the tree away from sources of heat, such as fireplaces and wood heaters.

Do not use candles near the tree.

Turn Christmas lights off when you are not at home and at night before you go to bed.

Do not put the tree directly under a heating vent.

Keep the area around the base of the tree clean. Remove any dead needles that are a fire hazard.

Poinsettia pointers

Chances are you have at least one poinsettia decorating your house right now. Here’s how to keep it looking fresh the whole season:

When you are bringing your plant home, keep it well protected in its wrapping.

Remove that wrapping as soon as you get it home.

Place the plant near the window, for good light, but do not let the plant touch window panes. As with any holiday plant, keep it out of drafts.

Daytime temperatures should be maintained between 60 and 70 degrees. If the temperature is too high, the life of the colorful leaves will be shorter and they will fade.

To keep the poinsettia in bloom, place it in a cooler room at night. Temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees are ideal. Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch.

Booker T. Leigh is director at the Tipton County Extension office. E-mail your gardening questions to bleigh1@utk.edu. Include your name and area where you live. For more gardening information, call the Tipton County Extension office at (901) 476-0231 or the Shelby County Extension office at (901) 752-1207.

By Carol Stocker
This is the big weekend for garden club greens sales, which often feature decorated bargain wreaths, swags and bagged greens for do-it-yourself decorating, freshly cut from members’ gardens. Many items and arrangements are hand made by members with an artistic flair. These non-profit events are often major fundraisers for local beautification projects.

The Milton Garden Club hosts its annual Greens Sale Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Known for its one of a kind fresh decorated evergreen wreaths, diverse arrangements starting at $2, and giant bags of fresh cut holly and mixed greens, this is a longstanding traditional event. This sale often sells out quickly so arrive before the doors open for the best selection. Location: Cunningham Hall, 75 Edge Hill Road, Milton.

Danvers Garden Club “Greens Sale,” Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is another great offering of holiday wreaths, kissing balls, swags, boxwood trees, baskets, and centerpieces designed and crafted by members of the Danvers Garden Club. Location: Endicott Park Carriage House, Forest St., Danvers.

Groveland Garden Club “Annual Greens Sale,” Saturday. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Unique hand made Wreaths, Swags, Kissing Balls, Boxwood Trees. Holiday Arrangements, Homemade Baked Goods…Location: Little Red Schoolhouse at the corner of Main Street (Rt. 113) and Broad Street.

Wollaston Garden Club “Greens Sale” Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. The sale will feature hand-made wreaths and swags, as well as large outdoor arrangements, indoor table arrangements, holiday plants and other unique gift items and our signature bagged greens. Location: Wollaston Congregational Church Social Hall 48 Winthrop Ave Wollaston, Quincy.

Bridgewater GC, “Annual Greens Sale” Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: Bridgewater Cole-Yeaton Senior Center, 10 Walley Krueger Way, Bridgewater, MA

Berkshire Botanical Garden Annual Holiday Marketplace is Dec 1 2 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and admission is free. As is tradition, regional designers and friends of the Garden have created a Gallery of Wreaths available for purchase. Visitors can expect an array of decorative styles, from traditional evergreen wreaths adorned with berries and bows to elaborate pieces featuring found natural materials like seed pods and magnolia leaves. Preserved boxwood topiaries, boxwood kits, and festive tabletop decor will be for sale, as will amaryllis, paper whites and hyacinths, all beautifully potted and ready for holiday bloom.Garden-lovers will enjoy unusual ornaments, reference and coffee table books, gift-wrapped membership packages and baskets filled with herb products made by the Garden’s Herb Associates for sale at the BBG Gift Shop.The annual Holiday Marketplace Cocktail Party will be held on Friday, November 30 from 5:00 to 8:00pm. Guests can enjoy cocktails and early buying privileges with the purchase of a $75 ticket, available through the Garden’s website or by phone at (413) 298-3926.

Tower Hill’s annual “HOLLY DAYS is a horticultural celebration of the winter holidays. It will highlight a gastronomic
theme with hand-crafted ornaments, November 23rd through December 30th. Tower Hill’s Stoddard Education Visitors
Center is magnificently decorated with trees, wreaths, and swags adorned with gleaming
lights and exquisite ornaments, making use of natural materials such as dried flowers,
leaves, seeds, seed-heads, cones, branches, and fruits.
Admission: The HOLLY DAYS exhibit and entertainment is included with garden admission;
$12 Adults, $9 Seniors (65+) and $7 Youth (6-18), children under 6 and Members admitted
FREE. Discounted group rates are available. NEW this year: In keeping with the food
theme, canned goods will be collected for Rachel’s Table Food Pantry; visitors can
deduct $1 from their admission for each can donated, limited to 6 cans per person,
per visit; no other discounts apply.
Hours: Daily from Nov. 23-Dec. 30, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Wednesdays until 8 P.M., closed
December 24, 25, 31, and January 1. Tower Hill is located at 11 French Drive in
Boylston, Massachusetts, three miles north of exit 24 off Route 290. For more information,
contact Tower Hill Botanic Garden at 508-869-6111, or visit the website at www.towerhillbg.org

By Carol Stocker
on Thursday, November 29: 4:00—8:00 pm, the country’s oldest horticultural society, Mass Hort, will hold their annual horticultural Christmas sale with gifts for gardeners at the Education Building, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley. Booths are next to the popular Festival of Trees event.

Some of the vendors you will find are:

Five Crows www.fivecrows.com
A variety of handcrafted gifts from Five crows Gallery in Natick that are reflective of the
holiday season.

Foxgloves www.foxglovesinc.com
Garden Gloves, hats and tools

Company Jam www.companyjam.net
Company Jam is a small batch taste of the season preserve and confiture company. Our products reflect the bounty of local farmers and the passion we have for bringing you the best each season.

Harriett’s Gingerbread
Harriett Hallagan of Dover will have a collection of boxwood trees and gingerbread
houses. For years she has been making gingerbread houses and boxwood trees
for family and friends. The trees are suitable for holiday table and mantle
decorations. She will have a selection of decorated gingerbread houses as well as
undecorated houses for those who wish to adorn them at home!

Little Beehive Farm www.littlebeehivefarm.com
Tony Lulek has developed a full line of bee and honey related products. They not only harvest and sell their honey but they also make soaps, candles, hand creams and other body care items.

Joannas New World Biscotti
Joanna’s New World Biscotti is a specialty, small-batch bakery offering an updated, highly flavorful take on an Old-World-style, European cookie.

Natural Pressings
Pressed floral art, cards and pictures

Fine Chokolader www.finechokolader.com
Made by hand Belgian Chocolates and traditional flavors

Wooden Expressions www.woodenexpression.com
Beautifully designed Hand made copper roof birdhouses

Harwood Arts www.harwoodArts.com
Original designs in silver, gold and precious stone jewelry

Victoria Gourmet www.vgourmet.com
All natural seasoning, salt and spice blends packaged in beautiful tins

Hendra Rose
Beautiful tucked silk scarves from India and others from around the world

Sanctuary Jewelry www.Sanctuarybodywork.net
Jennifer Houghtaling has been making jewelry for years as a way to steady and relax her mind and stoke her creative energies. Her designs are made from the most beautiful and eclectic semi-precious stones, gems and metals, resulting in a truly unique and one of a kind piece

Vianne Chocolat www.viannechocolat.com
Vianne Chocolat elevates locally sources ingredients in its hand crafted, artisan style chocolates.

Recently Added Vendors:
Cody’s Creation www.etsy.com/shop/codyscreations
Welcome to Cody’s Creations where pet fashion meets function! Handmade dog collars, cat collars, leashes, custom harnesses, Treat Pockets, Leash Pouches and more.

ForestMother http://www.etsy.com/shop/forestmother
Hand Made whimsical gnomes that reflect the artists love of flowers and woodland landscapes.

Paws to Celebrate
Handmade dog treats made locally in Natick, Mass.