yearbook
Average temperature: high 73 degrees, low 53 degrees |Winter arrives December 21st
Rainfall: 2.31 inches
1.Moon phase
Full moon: December 4th
Last quarter: December 11th
New Moon: December 19th
First quarter: December 27th
2. Moon Sign Planting Date
Ground crops: 2, 3, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30
Underground crops: 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16
Control weeds and pests: 4, 5, 22, 23, 24, 31
Pruning trees and shrubs: 1, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28
When to plant
3.Flowers: Alyssum, baby’s breath, bacopa, begonia, bush daisy, calendula, California poppy, candytuft, carnation, chrysanthemum, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, geranium, gode Tia, hollyhock, Icelandic poppy, licorice, lobelia, million bells, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansies, petunia, salvia, Shasta daisy, snapdragon, statice, stock, sweet pea, verbena, viola
4. Vegetables: Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, horseradish, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, radicchio, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips.
5. Herbs: Anise, arugula, basil, bay, chives, coriander, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme, watercress
6.Light bulb: African iris, amaryllis, anemone, bulb, crinum, daylily, paperwhite daffodil, ranunculus, society garlic, mandarin flower, rain lily. Store in the refrigerator for future planting: Dutch irises, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths
lawn care
7. Your lawn will grow well if you fertilize it beforehand and keep it as moist as allowed.
8. Sprinkler systems are limited to once a week in most areas.
9. Sporadic dry spots can be moistened with a hand-held hose if permitted.
10. Feeding time is over, but you can still give your lawn some iron and other micronutrients to keep it green.
11. Brown or large spot disease is common in St. Augustine and Sheba. Prevent with fungicides.
12. Weeds often invaded the lawn area. Remove and add new grass or plugs.
13. Use spot weed control techniques for small patches of well-growing weeds.
14. In most landscapes, mowing can be reduced to biweekly.
15. Mow the lawn at normal height to maintain a uniform appearance and control weeds.
16. Insecticides may not be necessary at this time of year, as lawn insects are less active.
17. Shiva’s lawn turns brown with the first frost. Some residents are spraying greenery in preparation for winter.
18. Replant shady areas that are difficult to mow with groundcover.
19. Prepare idle power supplies for winter storage.
20. Rake leaves from your lawn and add them to your compost pile.
lawn care
21. Remove warm-season crops when they begin to decline.
22. Warm-season vegetables hate winter weather. Replant into a cool soil type.
23. Small but continuous plantings ensure a continuous harvest.
24. It’s too late for new tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Replant in March.
25. Continue planting herbs in the ground or in containers. They love cool weather.
26. Harvest herbs frequently to encourage fresh growth. Save or share your extras.
27. Caterpillars eat corn and tomatoes. Control with natural sprays.
28. Start seeding cool season crops as needed to allow for transplantation.
29. Make the most of a small garden plot by choosing vine crops and planting them on a trellis.
30. Gardeners with limited space can grow their favorite vegetables in large containers.
31. Use clean containers and fresh potting soil to reduce pests and promote growth.
32. Feed your vegetable garden with composted manure or general fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks.
33. Feed container-planted seedlings every other week or use a slow-release fertilizer according to label directions.
34. Feeding time for all fruit trees, shrubs and vines is over. I will feed them again in March.
35. Follow watering rules. Micro sprinklers can often be used in the garden at any time.
36. During cooler weather, less water is needed for planting. Water when the topsoil starts to dry.
37. Add new cold-hardy fruits to your landscape. Delay planting tropical fruits until spring.
38. Postpone pruning of deciduous fruit trees until next month. Citrus fruits should be pruned until mid-February.
39. Your peach tree may start blooming, but don’t worry, there are plenty of buds for normal fruiting.
40. Keep covers on hand to protect cold-sensitive crops from frost and freeze.
landscape planting
41. Landscape planting allowed for a lot of growth with minimal storm damage.
42. Delay pruning large shrubs until late winter. Remove only out-of-range growth.
43. Pansies and other viola flowers are hard to find, but should become available soon.
44. Save money. Spread out one petunia and the hanging basket will gradually fill up.
45. Add poinsettias as accents to your landscape. Consider leaving it in a container.
46. Consider color combinations in your landscape, such as pink petunias, dusty millers, and snapdragons.
47. Avoid planting the same flowers in the same location year after year to reduce pest problems.
48. Incorporate organic matter into old annual beds and sandy soils to promote plant vigor.
49. Divide and replant perennials.
50. Fertilize annual flowers monthly or use a slow-release fertilizer recommended on the label.
51. Apply slow-release fertilizer to container plantings for winter feeding.
52. Winter is a stress-free time to add hardy trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to your landscape.
53. Choose trees and shrubs that are drought tolerant and pest tolerant.
54. Camellias bloom all winter long. Choose your favorite color and plant it.
55. The pruning season for most plants is over. You can delete out-of-range shots if you want.
56. Feeding time for all trees, shrubs, and vines is over.
57. Water new plantings and annuals and perennials frequently to keep the soil moist.
58. Add a light layer of dress mulch to conserve water, suppress weeds, and provide winter protection.
59. Hurry up and plant a wildflower garden for spring blooms.
60. Eliminate vine encroachments that cover trees and shrubs.
61. Take advantage of cooler weather to transplant trees and shrubs. Delay transplanting palms until spring.
62. Check and adjust the supports that hold the tree or palm in an upright position, if necessary.
63. Remove old soil from your container garden and give your new plantings a fresh start.
64. Old soil from containers can be tilled into established gardens.
65. Refresh the mulch layer with a light topdressing. Most layers should be 2 to 3 inches thick.
66. Rotate your compost pile at least monthly to speed up the process.
67. Add bird feeders and bird baths to your landscape.
68. Repair and repaint birdhouses, landscaping furniture, and fences.
69. Winter weather is unpredictable. Be prepared to protect cold-sensitive plants.
Caring for your house and houseplants
70. Poinsettias come in several colors. Try finding something new to suit your home.
71. Give holiday plants a cool, bright spot away from vents. Keep mom and poinsettia moist.
72. New Christmas and holiday cacti often drop their flower buds when moved to a new location.
73. Overwatering your Christmas or holiday cactus can cause it to rot. Wait until the surface is dry.
74. Start making paperwhite daffodil and amaryllis bulbs for gifts and winter flowers.
75. Replace faded houseplants with new greenery.
76. Move cold-sensitive outdoor plants to warmer areas.
77. Check your water needs frequently. When the surface soil starts to dry, moisten it thoroughly.
78. Wash the leaves with a mild detergent solution to remove dust and kill pests.
79. Move your plants to brighter areas during the winter months as natural light levels decrease.
Tom McCubbin is an emeritus urban horticulturist for the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write to Orlando Sentinel, PO Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com.
