Garden chores abound

So far, our December weather has been very good for getting out into the garden. This means we are able to get some awesome chores done on a nice day. Here is what to do:

Repair or remove: If your lawn grass is looking a bit worn, now is a good time to repair it. Removing thatch, aerating, reseeding and feeding are steps you can take now to rejuvenate the turf. If extra turf is not on your list, now is a good time to remove it and ready the bed for planting something else next spring. Cut out sod, cover the area with compost, then lay down cardboard and mulch.

Water: Since we have not had enough soaking rain this fall, it is vital to keep certain plants watered. Roses, blueberries, rhododendrons and newly planted shrubs and trees all need a weekly soaking until we get three to five inches of soaking rain. Be sure to check potted plants under the eaves or right next to the house.

Grow food: Local nurseries still carry a nice supply of cool season vegetables. Chard, spinach, leaf lettuce and Asian greens love cold, coastal winters. Now is the time to prepare and plant beds with cane berries, strawberries, asparagus roots and artichokes.

Clean up: Trim back faded, tattered perennials. Remove spent rose flowers. Clean up around beds, removing weeds, old pots, boards and garden debris. These things offer shelter for slugs, snails, sow bug and earwigs. Begin applying organic bait now and then once a month until spring.

Feed: Citrus plants, especially those in containers, should be given a steady feeding all winter long. A light dose of 4- 4- 4 along with a bit of iron is all it takes to keep plants green and robust.

Color up: This month and next local nurseries offer a nice variety of cyclamen. The bright hues of white, pink, red and lavender flowers cheer up patios and porches. Cyclamen even make nice houseplants if grown in bright light and a cool location. They rival poinsettias in color, last longer and cost less.