Let’s Get Gardening: December 2023

Let’s Get Gardening!

As the year comes to an end, I am taking the proverbial look back on everything I have (and have not) accomplished. That includes, of course, looking at how things went in my garden. On that front, it was a pretty good year. I didn’t have the chipmunk problems that I experienced last year, which meant we got lots of tomatoes, and the bush beans just kept on producing all summer long. On the other hand, I was super late getting my squash planted, so we didn’t get the tons of zucchini that we usually get, and downy mildew got to my cucumbers long before I was ready to not have any more cucumbers. On the whole, I would say it was a successful gardening year. And I’m already starting to plan for next year. How did your garden grow this year?

Jennifer

This month’s issue of Let’s Get Gardening

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Even though the year is winding down, there may still be things you can or should do outdoors, weather permitting:

In the Garden:

• There’s still time to plant bulbs in SE Michigan. With expected highs in the 40’s this week, the ground won’t be freezing just yet, so take the opportunity to get in some last-minute bulbs (and take advantage of our current sale on them – All Spring-Blooming Bulbs are Half Off!!). You can also force some bulbs indoors this winter.
• With the predictions of a milder winter, there comes the potential issue of frost heave in perennial gardens, due to the likelihood of multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Soil “heaves” up when freezing causes it to expand as the soil thaws and then freezes again. This causes damage to plants when roots are pushed up out of the soil.
• Even with milder temperatures, you can expect that the ground will freeze for extended periods over the winter. When the ground is frozen, plants can’t take up water, and evergreens, because they retain their leaves, can lose what water they do have when it’s windy. This is especially an issue for broadleaf evergreens such as hollies, boxwoods, rhododendrons, azaleas, and euonymus. Consider spraying evergreens with an anti-desiccant to help keep them from drying out in the cold winter winds. Anti-desiccants put a thin, waxy layer (derived from pine sap), on the leaves, which helps the plant retain moisture.
• If you put up stakes for wind barriers around your shrubs and small trees last month, now is the time to put up the actual barriers, if you haven’t yet. Burlap is a great choice, because it allows some air flow, but provides protection from the worst drying effects of the wind. I use cable ties, commonly referred to as “zip” ties, to attach the burlap to my stakes.
• One concern when the prediction is for a milder winter is that when we get snow, it is often the wet, heavy kind. We also often get more ice during these sorts of winters. With either comes the potential for damage to trees and shrubs. Heavy snow can weigh down and potentially break branches, but it’s easy to do more harm than good, if you’re not careful. Use a broom, and gentle upward motions to sweep away the snow. Banging on frozen branches to shake off snow can break them. For ice-covered branches, it’s better to leave them alone. There is pretty much nothing you can do that doesn’t have the potential to cause more damage.
• There are some things you can do over the winter months if you just can’t stand to go that long without doing something resembling gardening (I know I can’t!).
  • Sow onion seeds now for great onions next summer.
  • Plant basil and other herbs in pots to keep under grow lights to add a little fresh-from-the-garden taste to your cooking.
  • Grow leaf lettuces in a bowl under grow lights for fresh salads all winter.
  • Pot up tulips, daffodils, and crocuses for beautiful blooms in late winter.

For the Birds:

• Winter can be really tough on birds, because their main sources of food – insects, fruits, and seeds – are no longer available. Providing food for the birds during the cold months helps them save energy they would otherwise have to use in searching for it. So, keep your feeders clean and filled throughout the winter.
• Providing a source of water for birds is also important. Just as it is for us, water is essential to birds, but fresh water becomes hard to find when everything is frozen. A de-icer in the birdbath or a heated birdbath can offer your birds a regular source of fresh water all winter long.
• If you’re looking for something fun to do this winter, the annual Christmas Bird Count, which happens all over the country between December 14th and January 5th, and the Great Backyard Bird Count, which happens in February, are fun ways to help the birds and the people who study them. There is a Christmas Bird Count in Ann Arbor on December 16th. Details are here, but if you’re in a different area, you can find a count near you with this map. You can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count in your own backyard.

 

 

 

Read More

More info on all of these tips can be found in our monthly newsletter: Read the full December 2023 issue of Let’s Get Gardening

 

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Happy Gardening!

 

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Join Us For Chelsea’s 36th
Hometown Holiday Celebration!

Come into the store December 1st through 3rd for great gift ideas and special deals, including a free gift with purchase and 25% off all holiday ornaments.

While you shop, your children can plant their very own paperwhite bulb in a container decorated by them that they can take home to watch grow and bloom through the holidays.

Visit Chelseamich.com for details on all the fun Hometown Holiday happenings around town all month.

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