What’s Blooming This December

Witch Hazel

Grapefruits

Japanese Pieris

Winter Squash

Maintenance Tips This December

Fertilizing Needs

Fertilizing deciduous trees and shrubs in the winter makes them stronger, sturdier, and more durable. Even though your trees and shrubs may be in dormancy, winter fertilizing feeds the roots, which often keep growing throughout the winter months. Plants that are fertilized in the winter come out of dormancy in the spring quicker, and they grow more quickly throughout the spring growing season. A slow release fertilizer catered to your specific outdoor space needs is recommended most for winter fertilizing. Always avoid fertilizing when the ground is frozen. 

Pruning Needs

It is never a good idea to prune your trees and shrubs in the early winter. Pruning too early in the winter can cause your plants to dry out and can cause major damage to your plant that it may not be able to recover from. Because of this, refrain from pruning throughout December and most of January. There will be lots of pruning maintenance tips to come in the late winter-early spring. 

Pests and Diseases To Look Out For

A common winter pest to look out for in your outdoor space this month is chinch bugs. Chinch bugs are known for being able to withstand winter temperatures. They feed on moisture from grass which causes it to deteriorate and die off. 

A common winter lawn disease to look out for this December is fusarium patch. This disease causes patches of orange discolored grass and fungal growths. This disease most commonly arises in cool and moist conditions. 

Additional Monthly Tips This December:

While South Carolina winters are relatively mild, there are still things that you can do to your outdoor space this December to help insure maximum growth and health in the spring:

 Mowing: Continue to mow as needed to maintain the appropriate grass height for your turf type. Warm season grasses found in the Southeast (like Bermuda, Centipede, and Zoysia) should be mowed to around 1-2 inches tall. And remember the rule not to cut more than a third of your grass’s height at one time. Your lawn will continue to grow throughout the winter at a much slower rate than in the spring until the temperature drops below 40 degrees.

Irrigation: Only water the lawn when it’s dry and there’s no natural precipitation.

Soil Testing:  A soil test helps in preparation for spring to determine any necessary soil amendments.

Lawn Cleanup: Continuing to remove any leaves and debris from the lawn to maintain its health and appearance is extremely beneficial.

Upcoming Events

December 21st marks the day of the winter solstice! The winter solstice is a very important day for gardeners because that is when the earth begins to gradually wake up to provide another spring planting season. To celebrate this upcoming change of the seasons, it can be fun to decorate your outdoor space with evergreen trees and shrubs, like cypresses, hollies, and spruces,as a world wide symbol of resilience and renewal.