Leftover bulbs can be planted in pots and put in a shady, protected place.
After ten weeks, bring them into a sunny, warm place, or indoors, for early blooms.
For all winter color, plant winter pansies in pots, borders, or over bulbs.
Ornamental cabbage and kale also provide nice winter color. Both will thrive if
one tablespoon of Osmocote slow release fertilizer is put beneath each plant.
Stored plants
Check stored dahlias, begonias, and gladiolus. Sprinkle lightly with water if they are
shriveled. Make sure they are kept between 33 and 40 degrees.
Check stored geraniums and fuchsias. The soil should be kept slightly moist, moist
enough that plants do not shrivel, but dry enough that mold does not grow. If mold does grow, scrape it off.
Christmas trees
Be sure to select a fresh tree. If a needle breaks when it is bent, it is fresh. If
it just bends, it has already started to dry out. Be sure a fresh cut is made before
putting tree in the stand, and immediately give the tree all the water it will drink.
Spraying your tree with Wilt-Pruf will add to its life and safety of the tree, as
will adding a tree preservative to the water in the bowl.
Winter Weather
Protect broadleaf evergreens from cold weather by covering them with bedsheets,
plastic or a garbage can. Tender plants, such as waxleaf privet, fragrant daphne, and
pittosporum need protection from temperatures below 25 degrees. Almost all broadleaf
evergreens need protection from temperatures below 15 degrees. Remove clear plastic if
the sun comes out, or plants will overheat. Black plastic can be left on for a week.
Garden blanket can be left on longer because it breathes.
Spraying Wilt-Pruf on broadleaf evergreens will prevent freeze burn.
Brush snow off of plants with an upward motion so branches are not broken.
Excessive ice can be melted off with warm water, but watch for re-freezing.
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