December 2007 Garden Tips
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
• Gather cuttings of red twigged dogwood and spruce tops to add to planters or window boxes for winter decorating.
• Be sure to keep all of your birdfeeders and suet feeders full. Clean bird feeders out and start fresh for the winter. All bluebird houses should be cleaned out and left open until spring.
• Monitor any animal damage to your trees and shrubs. Apply repellants as needed or install fencing, if necessary.
• Don’t throw away those plastic pots in your garden shed. Many garden centers recycle them. Check with your local plant supplier to find out where—instead of a landfill—you may take yours.
• If you are placing holiday lights on your shrubs and trees, do so with care. Do not wrap the branches with strands of lights, but carefully drape the lights over the branches. If necessary, loosely secure them to the branches.
• It’s always fun to keep an eye out for wildlife. Watch and see what is attracted to your garden and plan to plant more wildlife-attracting perennials, shrubs, or trees next year.
• After Christmas, your live tree can be moved outside and be redecorated for the birds. Anchor the tree in a bucket full of damp sand. Trimmings can include strings of popcorn and cranberries; apples, oranges, and leftover breads; or pinecones covered with peanut butter and dipped in birdseed. For best results, push the edible ornaments well into the tree.
• Geraniums can be saved and stored in the house or put away, dry root, until March.
• When planning your landscapes for next spring, plan for trees and shrubs that would add fruit for wildlife. Position a flowering crab in the backyard, away from sidewalks and high traffic areas to avoid a mess, but where you can see it from indoors. Then sit and watch the flock of birds enjoying the berries off the tree. It’s a splendid addition to any garden.
WEB-EXCLUSIVE TIPS
• There’s still time to do some dormant pruning of your summer and fall flowering shrubs and trees. Ensure that you do not prune any of the spring flowering shrubs—wait until they are done flowering to prune those shrubs.
• Don't cut back sedum, hydrangeas, or grasses in the fall; leave them to blow in the winter winds, adding creativity to the landscape.
• All plants should have a systemic put in the soil and be sprayed for insects before bringing them in for the winter.
• Store all chemicals and sprays in a spot where they will not freeze. Make sure fertilizers in bags are not on a cement floor, which drains out nutrients and causes moisture to get in the bag.
• Check belts and spark plugs, change the oil, sharpen the blades, and clean off dirt so yard equipment will be ready when you need it next spring. Drain the fuel tank of the lawn mower or tiller before putting the machine away for the winter. Clean and sharpen lawn and garden tools and store them in a dry storage area.
Resources
The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center
952-361-9954
All Seasons Garden Center
701-746-7777
Otten Bros. Nursery and Landscaping
952-473-5425
Villa Landscapes
Burnsville
952-894-1553
Maple Grove
763-425-9277
Oakdale
651-773-7440
6 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
