What to do in your garden in December: Plant color, harvest greens, water wisely, and celebrate the season - Northern California Checklist - Brief Article

Sunset, Dec, 2001

PLANTING

* BARE-ROOT ROSES. Zones 7-9, 14-17: Shop nurseries now while selections are good. Choices may include climbing roses, floribundas, hybrid teas, and easy-care shrub roses. Try one of these favorite varieties: 'Bonica' (pink shrub rose), 'Brandy' (apricot blend hybrid tea), 'Double Delight' (red and white bicolor hybrid tea), 'Iceberg' (white floribunda or climber), 'Just Joey' (apricot hybrid tea), 'Kaleidoscope', (orange tan to lavender shrub rose), 'Knock Out' (cerise shrub rose), 'Mister Lincoln' (red hybrid tea), or 'Peace' (yellow hybrid tea).

* NEW PRIMROSE. A chemical found on the hairs of Primula obconica stems and leaves can cause a skin rash for some susceptible people after the plants have been handled. The irritant is called primin, and if you've discovered you're sensitive to it, look in nurseries for a relatively new series of P. obconica called Libre, which is primin-free. Flower colors include blue, light salmon, magenta, pink, and white.

DECORATING

* CARE FOR LIVING CHRISTMAS TREES. Most nurseries carry the following kinds: aleppo pine, Colorado blue spruce, dwarf Alberta spruce, giant sequoia, and Monterey pine. Before bringing the tree indoors, water the pot thoroughly and hose down the foliage. Indoors, set the pot in a cool location in a plastic waterproof saucer or in a clay saucer set on plastic or a waterproof cork mat. Camouflage the nursery can by surrounding it with corrugated metal sheeting or drape it with festive fabric. Check soil moisture daily.

* MAKE A WREATH OR SWAG. Nurseries are stocked with plenty of greenery for adorning a door and draping on a mantel. Spray untreated greens with an antitranspirant to delay drying. Add natural cones and pods or dried berries, and finish it with a raffia bow. Or attach an elegant wired ribbon bow.

* PREPARE CUT TREES. Christmas trees purchased on lots are sometimes dusty and dirty. Before bringing your tree indoors, shake out the old needles, then spray the tree down with water and allow it to dry. Slice 1 inch off the bottom of the trunk before setting the tree in the stand.

MAINTENANCE

* PROTECT CITRUS FROM FREEZES. Zones 7--9, 14--17: Young trees are more susceptible to injury than older ones. Regardless of the tree's age, small fruits (such as immature lemons up to inch in diameter) are damaged at

30[degrees] to 31[degrees], while larger, ripe citrus fruits (especially grapefruits, oranges, and mandarins) can usually handle temperatures down to 26[degrees] for short periods of time. If a heavy freeze is predicted, cover trees with burlap draped over stakes, if practical. Harvest mature fruit.

* ADJUST IRRIGATION SYSTEM. Zones 7--9, 14--17: Now that the weather has cooled down, soil dries out more slowly. Adjust your automatic irrigation system to operate less frequently (test soil moisture between irrigations to determine frequency). If rainfall is ample, set your controller on rain delay (if it has a rain sensor) or simply turn it off. Otherwise, continue to water as needed until rains come.