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Garden tips for DecemberBy Ray Ridlen --Keep all plants watered during dry conditions even though some may be dormant. --Irrigate all plantings at least 24 hours before hard-freezing weather if soil is dry. --Order garden supplies for next season. --Design and make structural improvements in the garden and landscape. --Christmas gift ideas for the gardener might include tools, garden books, magazine subscriptions, educational tapes or membership to botanical gardens. --Clean and fill bird feeders. --Make sure indoor plants are receiving enough light or set up an indoor fluorescent plant light. --Garden plots without a cover crop should be tilled to further expose garden pests to harsh winter conditions. --Visit county office to obtain gardening fact sheets for the new gardening season. --Review garden records and correct past mistakes. Purchase a new gardening journal or calendar to keep the new year's gardening records. Lawn and turf --Remove leaves from cool-season grasses or mow with a mulching mower. --Continue mowing cool-season lawns on a regular basis. --Continue to control broadleaf weeds in well-established warm or cool season lawns with a post-emergence broadleaf weed killer Trees and shrubs --Select a freshly cut Christmas tree. Make a new cut prior to placing in tree stand. Add water daily. --Live Christmas trees are a wise investment, as they become permanent additions to the landscape after the holidays. --Light prunings of evergreens can be used for holiday decorations. Be careful with sap that can mar surfaces. Flowers --Apply winter mulch to protect rose bush bud unions and other perennials. Wait until after several early freezes to avoid giving insects a place to winter. --Poinsettias must have at least six hours of bright, indirect light daily. Keep plants away from drafts. Fruits and nuts --Cover strawberry plants with a mulch about 3 to 4 inches thick if plants are prone to winter injury. --Wait to prune fruit trees until late February or March. Date: 12/17/2012
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