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Although the first day of Winter a.k.a. Winter Solstice isn’t til December 21st, we have certainly had some nights cold enough to determine which of our outside plants are frost tolerant or frost susceptible.
December duties
Have you made your last cut on the fields or lawns for a long moment? If so, make sure to winterize your equipment before you put it up for winter hibernation.
1) Clean your tools and oil them
2) Drain all the gasoline engines and oil/grease joints. Don’t let that gasoline sit in your equipment (such as mowers, edgers, etc.) over winter. Be sure to run the engines until all the gasoline has been depleted.
3) During this month we are going to need to be vigilant as to the weather and our opportunities to prepare our gardens for the Spring planting. Gentle reminder: we have time. Do a little each day or every other day.
4) Add organic material to all your flower and gardening beds and have them ready to plant when needed.
5) So, those bulbs you put in your refrigerator in September…. it’s now been 6-8 weeks. Time to plant them. Both tulip and hyacinth bulbs will provide wonderful color in your flowerbeds.
6) WARNING!! Don’t start to prune your fruit trees yet. Pruning promotes growth and budding... You don’t want to dead head roses at this time, either. Pruning flowering plants during this season confuses the plants. Dead heading or pruning sends signals to the plant or tree that it is Spring. We don’t want to fool our fruit trees or roses as to what season it is.
7) This is still a good time to set out those cool season plants such as pansies, violas, stock, snapdragons and many more.
8) Gentle Reminder: Now that we have found the turkey baster for the holidays, it is an excellent watering tool for indoor plants. It gives us the ability to keep the leaves dry on the houseplants while the roots drink the water.
Killing poison ivy
Have you marked the Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) vines? BEFORE cutting or getting close to the itchy vine, put on rubber gloves. [When you are done using the gloves, remove them and dispose of them or if they are hardy you may run them through the dishwasher.]
If your vines are in your trees, like ours are, cut the vine at the base of the tree. You are going to make two applications. Combine one half (½) cup of orange oil, one (1) gallon of twenty (20%) percent vinegar and one (1) teaspoon of liquid soap. Use this combination as a spray when the Poison Ivy begins to sprout out. Spray where you cut. If you have Poison Ivy away from other plants, also spray the mixture on the leaves. Typically Poison Ivy will sprout again after the first application; it is a very naughty plant and will fight back. Keep applying orange oil and vinegar mixture until you win. Warning: be sure to clean your tools, hands, and even your clothes to remove Poison Ivy oils. Almost every part of the poison ivy plant contains urushiol oil, “itchy stuff.” Also, 20% vinegar is very pungent. You will want to protect yourself, children and animals from the fumes as you mix and spray.
It will dissipate quickly, so the danger is short; it’s like filling up your vehicle with gasoline. Remember that this mixture will kill any plant on which you spray it, not just the Poison Ivy.
If you would like, you may also add a drop or two of food coloring to the mixture so that it is easier to tell where your spray mixture has landed. This recipe is compliments of Trisha Shirley. Now you have the makings of a good, strong, NATURAL herbicide for those unwanted plants.
Till next time. Keep your souls and soles in your garden!
Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1 Contact Martelle Luedecke (512) 769-3179 at luedeckephotography@ gmail. or Bill at (512) 577-1463 or email bill@texasland.net.
