DECEMBER - WORK IN THE GARDEN AND GARDEN

FRUIT

They examine the cuts on the trees that remained after the autumn pruning. If necessary, they are re-lubricated with garden pitch.

Periodically check the fruits that have been stored.

Having found the first signs of decay, such apples and pears are removed from the general storage area.

Seedlings buried in autumn, which are planned to be planted in spring, are spudded with snow and compacted around the root system.

It is necessary to clean up the household, repair and lubricate the tool, make a list of new purchases. During the winter, birds are fed, attracting them to their garden from the first cold days.

During the thaw, insufficiently frost-resistant fruit trees are spudded: plum, peach, cherry, sweet cherry, apple trees and pears on vegetative rootstocks.

BERRY IN DECEMBER

Currant, gooseberry and raspberry bushes are well covered with snow for more reliable protection against frost. If the winter is snowless, then the strawberries will definitely need additional shelter, for example, another layer of mulch.

VEGETABLES IN DECEMBER

Once a decade, inspect vegetables laid down for long-term storage. All fertilizers and protective equipment are transferred to a frost-free room.

In winter, it's time to pick up an assortment of vegetable crops and varieties for the next garden season. Conduct an audit among the available seeds. In order not to forget or miss anything during the period of growing seedlings, they think over a plan for future plantings in the garden in advance and draw up a schedule for sowing seeds.

FLORAL IN DECEMBER

Examine the stored corms of gladioli, acidantera and crocosmia, dahlia root tubers and begonia tubers.

Additionally cover flower beds with snow. If December is snowless, then you can use peat, spruce branches, leaves, covering materials.

They inspect the shelters of roses and other heat-loving shrubs. If there are damages in the structure, they must be eliminated.

Bulbs of daffodils and tulips, which are forcing, are watered moderately once every 7-10 days.

In December, it's time to study the varietal novelties of ornamental plants, think over a plan for a new flower garden or the reconstruction of an existing one in the garden. Based on this, make lists for the purchase of planting material and seeds.

Crops that were grown in containers in the summer and brought into the house for the winter also need care. Water these flowers moderately, with water at room temperature. Too thin and elongated shoots are cut out.

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FLOWER CALENDAR: FLOWER GARDEN AT THE BEGINNING OF WINTER

Experienced flower growers even have plans for winter. Let's find out what important work on caring for flower plants awaits us in December.

ROSES IN THE WARM

With the onset of frosty weather, when the temperature at night drops below - 10 degrees, I close the cracks in the shelters of the roses, left in the fall for ventilation. I'm looking forward to the snow, because it is an ideal natural insulation not only for roses, but also for perennials wintering in the open ground (peonies, irises, phlox, astilbe). When it falls out, I make sure to spread a good layer over the flower beds and edges.

Tamara GOLTSEVA

IN STORAGE WITH AUDIT

I continue to look after the tubers and corms stored in the house. If the dahlia root tubers begin to wither, I lower the temperature to +5+7 degrees and moisten the substrate in which the planting material is stored. If rot appears, I cut off these parts, treat them with a strong solution of potassium permanganate and replace the substrate with a fresh and drier one.

I cull diseased corms from gladioli. I keep those specimens that were next to the spoiled ones in a solution of Fundazol (2 g per 1 liter of water) for half an hour, then dry them and place them in a clean container.

Tatiana DEMIDOVA, Moscow region.

DO NOT TRAMP ON THE LAWN!

Until a stable snow cover (more than 10 cm) appears, I limit the load on the lawn, especially young ones. Active games, storing various materials, driving even on frozen ground can cause significant damage to the lawn. When removing snow from paths, I distribute it evenly across the lawn without accumulating in piles. I break the ice crust. By the way, I don’t use salt to clear ice from paths, as is often recommended in gardening blogs. When salt gets on nearby plants and grass, it destroys them.

Sergey ANDREEV

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FLOWER CONCERNS IN DECEMBER

As we prepare for the holidays, let’s not forget about flower and gardening projects, of which there are many at this time.

WE WATCH THE LAWN

Grass covered with snow is not at all a playground for winter games. Do not allow children (and guests) to trample it. Compacted snow and ice crust will lead to damping off of the grass, which means that the lawn will have to be “repaired” in the spring. To preserve the grass surface as best as possible over the winter, do not dump snow on it. It is better to arrange snow retention by scattering cut branches from fruit or ornamental trees and shrubs over the lawn.

PROTECTING PERENNIALS

If there is little precipitation and stronger frosts are expected, if possible, cover plants wintering in open ground (periwinkle, phlox, tulip, daffodil, crocus, lily, iris, delphinium, etc.) with snow from other parts of the garden. Carry out the same procedure on the alpine hill, covering the bare areas with snow.

WE'RE PLANNING LANDINGS

Now is the time to think about what innovations can be introduced into the site plan next season: plant new flower beds, plant interesting plants, create a mini-pond, build a stone garden...

WE FIGHT RODENTS

The result in this matter will only come with constant work. Place and renew poisoned baits, but be careful that children and pets do not find them. In places where mouse passages are visible, trample down the snow. This will make it difficult for rodents to move around the area.

STRATIFIZING THE SEEDS

Those who have already started sowing need to remember that the seeds of many crops need stratification for better germination. Moreover, each type has its own cooling period. For example, for verbena, hybrid delphinium - 2 weeks, for geranium and toadflax - 3 weeks, for daylilies - 6 weeks, for lilies - 12 weeks, for soapwort - up to 13 weeks. Carry out stratification at a temperature of + 2-5 degrees. The bottom compartment of the refrigerator is suitable for these purposes. Pre-wrap the seeds in damp cotton pads or embed them in vermiculite, perlite, sphagnum moss, peat tablets, sand or a mixture of peat and sand (1:1). Containers, boxes, cups and zip bags are suitable as containers for germination. After cooling, sow the seeds in prepared bowls with loose, fertile soil and place them in a place with conditions suitable for a particular species. Most often, crops are kept at temperatures from +13 to + 21 degrees.

If stratification is completed by May, then the seeds can be sown immediately in open ground.

STUDYING LITERATURE

Now is the time to stock up on the missing knowledge on gardening and flower matters. Study relevant literature (books, magazines), watch television programs and videos on the Internet. Analyze your mistakes and shortcomings. Write down useful information in your summer diary.

© Author:  Irina CHUDAEVA, Art. scientific co-workers Institute of Naturopathy, Moscow

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Reference by topic: Garden work schedule for December - what needs to be done

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DECEMBER - WORK IN THE GARDEN AND GARDEN: VIDEO

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