Your Garden in December

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Looks like we’re starting December off rather nicely on the Wet Coast, sunny and cool. After dipping my shopping toes into the danger filled waters of mall Christmas shopping I think I do the rest online, in my pjs and gorilla slippers…while listening to Dave Cooks the Turkey by Stuart McLean. There is not a ton to do in the garden at this time, but a whole lot of daydreaming.
Ok, ok, there are a few things you can still do for those keeners out there.

Here’s the list:

Garden Beds:
You can still plant shrubs and trees so long as the ground is not frozen or mucky and waterlogged. Don’t panic if you haven’t plunked those bulbs in yet, wait until the soil has dried out a bit and then toss them in. Weed if needed, mulch around plants with chopped up leaves or bark mulch (avoid using fruit tree or rose leaves). If you have acid lovers such as blueberries or lingonberries or rhodo’s you can drag fallen pine and fir branches to the garden beds and leave them until the needles fall off and then drag away the branches sans needles.

Plant for Winter Interest
Thisis a great time to look for plants that most spring-only gardeners would miss. The list is actually quite large, for example: camellias, mahonia, hellebores, wintergreen, holly and more

Pots:
Mother Nature has so handily provided many fallen boughs for me to fill my front planters with. Go for a walk and collect some boughs for swags or garlands. We also have some artfully arranged at the store too. Don’t forget to water those plants under cover outside. While not requiring water every day or even once a week, you’ll still need to water say once every two weeks. Feel the top of the soil and make sure it feels moist. When it dries out, add water.

House Plants:
With the cooler weather, most of us have our furnaces on blowing warm and dry air. Keep an eye on your houseplants, misting and providing pebble trays as needed.

Bulbs for Forcing
you can still start paper whites, Hyacinth and Amaryllis now for late winter blooms.

Lawns:
Those past few winter storms should have taken care of most of the rest of the leaves. Make sure to rake or blow large leaves off of the lawn or you’ll be making extra work for yourself next spring with overseeding all those bare patches.

Seeds:
The seed catalogues should be starting to come in around now and you can settle down with a nice peppermint hot chocolate and a pen and put your feet up and start your wish list. Now is a great time to plan for next year and just think… you don’t have to put up with a pesky garden to-do list until 2012!
Cheers,
Laurelle

Amaryllis - Plant Them Now For Winter Flowers!

Only the Poinsettia is more attached to the holidays than the Amaryllis. Forcing these beautiful flowers into bloom yourself is not hard to do and provides great satisfaction.

Also known by its latin name 'Hippeastrum', these flowering plants originally came from South America. Most varieties feature large flowers and solid colours, but many new varieties are multi-coloured like the pink and white combinations.




Choosing a Bulb

Size does matter! The larger the Amaryllis bulb, the more flowers it will produce.
Buy bulbs that are nice and heavy.


Planting
Amaryllis are purchased as a large bulb.They can be planted anytime between Fall and early spring, but they are best planted in October, November or even December if you want to have them blooming in time for the holidays.

Their flowers are long lasting, sometimes blooming well into May.

Use a good sized pot with a drainage hole, preferably one that is somewhat wider than the bulb. You should be able to place your finger between the bulb and the side of the pot. Fill the pot about half way with good potting soil.

Place the bulb in lukewarm water for a couple of hours. This will encourage the development of roots.

When handling the bulb, avoid damahing its roots. Place the bulb into the pot, and then continue adding soil, partially covering the bulb. You should be able to see at least half the bulb above the level of the soil surface. After planting, tamp down the soil firmly.


Growing Tips
The most important factor when growing Amaryllis is warmth. For this reason, place the plant in a warm sunlit space such as a windowsill. Don't water too much until you see the stem begin to appear and elongate. As soon as the bud leaves appear, the Amaryllis will require more and more water everyday.

Once the stem has grown upwards, flowering will begin. It normally takes 6-10 weeks for a potted bulb to flower. For added enjoyment, buy several Amaryllis and plant them several weeks apart. This will create a succession of beautiful blooms in your home.

Follow Up Care
Once the Amaryllis has finished flowering, cut away or remove the spent blooms. This will redirect the plants energy away from seed production and into preserving the remaining flowers for a longer time. Allow the leaves to grow and develop. Water regularly and apply a houseplant fertilizer.

In late summer, stop all watering. In early fall, trim foliage from the bulb and place the bulb, pot and all in a cool, dry place that is frost free. In several weeks, begin the cycle again.

Art's Nursery carries a nice selection of old classic Amaryllis varieties as well as exciting new ones. This year's line up includes: