December: To Do

While much of the USA is now experiencing weather cold enough to keep them out of the garden, that isn't true for USDA zone 9, Sunset zone 14. We are still planting and harvesting. However, we still need to be frost wary and protect any tropical plants, like my banana or shrimp plant that are still outdoors. And just like everyone else, this is a good time to give your tools a good cleaning.

Announcements

Livermore-Amador Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Harvest Park School Auditorium on Valley Avenue in Pleasanton. Call 462-3261 for more information. December 1999's talk is "Christmas from the Garden" and January 2000's talk is "Therapeutic Garden Design".
Danville/Alamo Garden Club will meet January 6, 2000 at 10 am in the San Ramon library (upstairs) 100 Montgomery St., San Ramon. Topic: Water Gardens. Call 743-1103 for more info.
Mt Diablo Rose Society meets the second Wednesday at 8 pm in the Pleasanton community Garden, Community Room. Call 846-7451 for more information.
Interested in herbs. Janet Massaro (443-5066) is putting together an herb club.
Alden Lane Classes/Activities:
Stepping Stones, Dec 4th, 10 am, $18
Pet Photo with Santa, Dec. 4th & 5th, 10 am - 2 pm, $10/2 prints, procedes are donated to Valley Humane Society.
Ice Candle Making: Dec 9, 3:30 pm, $10/child 2 candles/child
Pruning Workshop: Dec 11th, 10 am & Dec 12th, 2 pm
Santa Claus!:Dec 11, 11-2
Stepping Stones, Dec 16th, 3:30pm, $18
Decorate a Bird House, Dec 18th, 10 am, $18
Las Positas College Horitculture Classes. The spring semester starts on January 10th. Call 373-5800 or check out the Las Positas web site for registration information.
Recycle your cut Christmas tree. Call the Livermore Boy Scout Troops 924, 926, 931, 932, and 975 at 454-9746 or 454-9577 no later than January 6, 2000. They will pick up trees for a $5 donation residential, $10 if the tree is flocked or you are business. Trees are picked upt January 8, 2000. Or you can drop your tree off at Alden Lane Nursery on January 8, 2000.
Livermore Dublin Disposal has a special 1 time tree pickup during the week of January 10, 2000. On your regular garbage day, a special truck will pass down the street and pick up your tree. Your tree must be on the curb no later than 5:30 AM. Only clean trees, no flocking or tinsel. If your tree is taller than 6 feet, cut the top off so that each section is less than 6 feet, then wedge the cut off section into the body of the tree. Call 447-1300 if you have questions.

General (or it never ends)

Now is an excellent time to head out to the garden with notebook in hand to plan next years garden. I try to do this every month, but I succede in doing it maybe twice a year. I like to record what's in bloom, what looks particularly excellent or what looks terrible, where there are empty looking spots, and what I might like to do about changing the garden.
Rake up those leaves.
Frost coming. You can protect tender plants by spraying with Cloud Cover (brandname) and covering with burlap, clear plastic, or a cardboard box. Try not to touch the plant with the burlap/cardboard. Uncover plant during the day (unless using plastic).
Freeze coming: use Christmas lights to keep your plant warm.

Trees and Shrubs

Finish planting bare-root stock and evergreens.
It may be raining a little outside, but newly planted trees and shrubs will probably need additional water.
Feed any new plantings.
Prune dormant trees, shrubs, and vines. I do this the last week of December when all of the leaves have fallen, and I can clearly see the shape of the tree. Do not prune spring blooming shrubs like lilac, quince, flowering cherry until the bloom is over.
Take hardwood cuttings.

Roses

Plant bare-root roses during the last week of December.
It may be raining a little outside, but newly planted trees and shrubs will need additional water.
Feed any new plantings.
Check supports on climbers.
Clean up and dispose of rose leaves. Do not compost.
You can prune roses, now. I know a lot of people have time off from work around the New Years Holiday. I recommend waiting until January.

Lawns and Ground Covers

Water during dry weather.
Lightly fertilize or topdress lawns.

Perennials

Plant! Water new plants regularly.
Watch for freeze. Tender plants need to be protected or brought indoors.
Weed and clean up beds and borders.

Bulbs

Plant pre-cooled bulbs during the last week of December or wait until January. Feed when you plant.
Water if weather is dry.

Annuals

Plant hardy annuals.
Weed, water, feed, and deadhead those already growing.
Pull faded, wornout, and dead fall annuals.
Plan for next year. Start seeds and place orders.

Container Gardens

Kitchen Garden: Vegetables and Herbs

Harvest crops.
Plant coolweather crops in garden or cold frame. It's time sto plant artichoke and asparagus starts.
Remember to ventilate cold frame on warm or sunny days.
Clean up empty beds.
Add organic matter to soil or plant a cover crop.
Plan for next year. Start seeds and place orders.

Fruit

Plant berries (strawberries, raspberry, and blackberry) and rhubarb. Water new plantings deeply. Stake new plants. January is the time to plant bare root trees and vines.
Clean up dropped fruit and leaves.
Prune dormant trees and bushes. I do this the last week of December when all of the leaves have fallen, and I can clearly see the shape of the tree.
Apply dormant sprays.

House, greenhouse, or conservatory plants

If you still have house plants outdoors, you need to bring them inside. In this area, USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 14, it gets cold enough to kill tender houseplants.
Place gift plants in a cool, well lit area away from drafts. Punch a hole in foil wrapping for drainage.

Other: Structural and Special

Tool maintenance:
- Clean caked on dirt from shovels, spades and trowels. Sharpen with a file. Wipe blades with an oily rag or dip in your bucket of sand and oil. Wipe handles with an oily rag and then a clean rag.
- Sharpen pruning shears. I try to do this every time I use my shears. However, if you haven't been maintaining sharp tools, it is a good idea to sharpen them or have a professional sharpen them before you do your winter pruning.
Protect tender plants from frost. We had our first frost of 1998 on December 4th. Spray with Cloud Cover, use burlap, Fast Start Fabrick or cardboard boxes. Try not to let covering material touch the plants. Uncover during the day. String Christmas lights on plants to protect from freeze.

References

To Do Index

Jennifer

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This page was last modified Thursday, 25-Sep-2003 16:39:31 PDT