What’s Blooming For December

Maintenance Tips For December

Fertilizing needs this month:

In our zone 8 climate,fertilizing trees and shrubs with a slow-release fertilizer while the plant enters dormancy can be a great way to help promote fast growing new growth in the following spring season. However, winter fertilizing should still be approached with caution. It is very important to wait until your trees and shrubs have entered dormancy before fertilizing them in the winter. Fertilizing while these plants are still growing can stimulate new growth before dormancy kicks in, leaving that new growth vulnerable to winter temperatures, and therefore making the entire plant vulnerable to disease and stunted growth. Look for signs of dormancy like loss of foliage and change of foliage color to determine if your plant has entered dormancy or not. Another important rule for winter fertilizing is to never fertilize while the ground is frozen. It is impossible for the fertilizer to travel down to the root system while the ground is frozen. 

Pruning needs this month:

Deciduous trees and shrubs will be ready for winter pruning once they have entered dormancy this winter season. It is a good idea to wait until the deciduous plant has lost all of its foliage before pruning to make it easier to see exactly where you want to prune. While pruning in the winter, you should be removing all damaged or diseased branches, branches that cross over each other, weak branches, as well as shaping branches to your desired shape and size to fit your outdoor space. Try to avoid removing more than 1/3rd of the plant’s canopy to help prevent potential winter damage to the exposed pruning cuts on the branches. 

Additional monthly tip:

If you want to properly care for your warm season grass lawns while they are in dormancy, here is a list of things that you DO NOT want to do to your lawn this winter season:

• Do not use a nitrogen fertilizer on your lawn
• Do not aerate
• Do not mow dormant grass
• Do not unnecessarily disturb the soil of your lawn 
• Minimize foot traffic on frozen or frosty grass 
• Do not overwater your lawn 

Here are some actually beneficial things that you can do for your warm season grass lawn instead:

• Regularly remove leaves and other debris from your lawn
• Protect your irrigation system from winter temperatures
• Adjusting your irrigation system to water your lawn appropriately for the winter temperatures 
• Cool-season weed control 
• Equipment maintenance to prepare for spring time lawn care