By Claudette Sims, Halton Master Gardener
Winter decorations
Chose decorative greenery wisely. Do not use invasive plants found in the wild as that can further spread them. Common invasive plants to avoid: invasive grasses like miscanthus and phragmites; stems with berries like invasive honeysuckles and multiflora rose. Source greenery from stores, neighbours or friends as harvesting from the wild is not sustainable.
Trees
Make sure young trees and shrubs are protected from rabbits. Use tree wraps or wire baskets placed over smaller plants. Plan major tree or shrub pruning now while branches are bare.
Houseplants
Check weekly for disease or pests. Remove dead or dying foliage. Make sure you check the soil before watering.
Amaryllis
Pot up your amaryllis. Choose a pot 1–2 inches larger in diameter than the bulb and at least 5 inches deep with good drainage holes. Add a light indoor potting mix and then place the bulb (roots down and pointy side up) in the pot. Add soil to within an inch of the top so that about 1/2 to 2/3 of the bulb is showing. Water well, avoiding water on the neck of the
bulb.
Lawn
If you still have leaves on your lawn, rake them into the garden (or bag/compost to store for spring mulching) when the weather permits. Avoid walking on lawn if soil is soft and leaves footprints.
Food crops
Cover carrots, parsnips and newly planted garlic with straw to harvest in the spring. Collect rose hips and hawthorns for jelly or tea.
Bulbs
Get those bulbs in the ground before it freezes!
New year
Make a garden resolution! It might be to plant more native plants in your garden, eliminate pesticide use, or weed weekly.
Check out our November newsletter for any garden jobs that you may have missed.
