Planting: Even in this cold weather you can still plant trees and shrubs! Planting now ensures that the roots have time to establish themselves before the growing season, giving them a good start. Holiday trees and other festive greens are here! Pick out your tree and start a new tradition this year, but get yours soon- limited stock sells fast! Read about Holiday Tree Care to see if it’s right for you.
Houseplants: As winter approaches, houseplants will require less fertilization. If you have poinsettias in the home, keep them away from cold drafts and keep leaves from touching the windows. Use houseplant fertilizer to maintain the leaf color. Keep them out of the reach of children and pets as they are mildly toxic when ingested.
Tools: It’s a great time to clean, sharpen and oil your tools and store them until the next growing season. Take advantage of Michael’s Mobile Sharpening Service on Sundays in December (weather permitting) outside our nursery gate!
Backyard birds: During the winter months, food becomes scarce for our feathered neighbors. Putting up feeders during the winter (ideally October through April) can help them get enough food to maintain sufficient body heat. For more information on feeding wild birds, check out this handy information about Feeding Wild Birds put together by the Oregon State University Extension Service. Check out our bird section in the garden department for feeders and other supplies, and this information on Hummingbird Feeder Care.
Maintenance and Protection Don’t forget to water any covered or protected plants regularly throughout the winter. While they won’t break down on their own through the winter, (shred to help) rake up old leaves and use them as mulch to protect your garden beds- or use compost, straw or manure. These can add organic material that will break down and add nutrients to your soil. Dispose of any diseased materials properly.
• Weeding in the garden right now helps to mitigate the onslaught of weeds in the springtime.
• Clean up any brush piles or plant materials that can harbor slugs and snails. Using Sluggo will help control them.
• Clean up flowering perennials by snipping off the brown spent flower stalks. Consider using row cover on more cold sensitive plants when temperatures drop to protect your plants from more extreme weather.