December Gardening Calendar Colorado State University Extension Tri River Area Mesa Delta Montrose Ouray Counties

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Week 1
If you have a planting of figs in your garden, now is the time to build a frame to protect these plants. Yes, some local TRA gardeners do grow and receive a crop of figs for their gardening efforts. Outdoors figs should, however, be provided protection during the winter with a protective layer of leaves or straw.	Cuttings from African-violets and begonias rooted this month will add to your collection for next year's bloom.	Poinsettias should be in full flower early this month. The night temperature in the greenhouse can be dropped to 55 ^o Fahrenheit, but not lower.	The Seedling Tree Program provides an opportunity for owners of two acres or more to purchase low cost seedling trees and shrubs for use in windbreaks, living snow fences, wildlife habitat, reforestation and erosion control. Contact the CSU Extension office in your county for an application form and further information.	If you plan to have a living Christmas Tree keep the tree in the home for no more than three days. Any longer can result in the tree breaking dormancy and then dying when the tree is set back outside.	Hyacinths, tulips and narcissi that were prepared for early forcing or "precooled" can be brought in from the cold and placed in the greenhouse or in home. Keep these pots in complete darkness for a week after bringing them indoors to induce longer stems. Place hyacinths in light when the shoots are 5 inches tall, tulips and narcissi when they are three inches tall.	The Tri River Area Master Gardener program is still accepting applications.
Week 2
The Dial-a-Garden Message (970 244-1706) provides additional gardening information on a weekly basis.	House plants with large leaves such as Philodendrons, Dracaenas, Palms and rubber plants benefit greatly if their leaves are washed occassionally with a sponge digged in soapy water and squeezed out. This removes the grime of winter and helps unclog breathing pores (stomates) covered with dust.	Bougainvillea, Ficus and other indoor plants should be checked for scale insects. A cuetip dipped in alcohol can be used to wipe these insect pests from stems and leaves.	If the lack of gardening is unbearable, try planting grapefruit and orange seed in well-drained soil as they are taken fresh from the fruit without drying.		Repot houseplants into large pots if they dry out too soon after watering. The use of a humidifier will also help by reducing the dryness of the air. Misting plants should not be done with tap water due to the build up of salts on leaves and the possible salt burn resulting. Distilled water is OK!	Many dwarf varieties of annual flowers can be used as house plants. Asters, celosia, calendulas and marigolds all come in dwarf form and if provided adquate light can produce beautiful blooming houseplants to brighten up your winter.
Week 3
Roses should be mulched 6 to 8 inches deep to protect the canes and graft union from winter dehydration after the ground has frozen to a depth of three to four inches. Even if snow covers the ground, a mulch should be applied.			Give your house plants a thorough soaking each month to flush out excessive soil salts. Place the plant in the sink or bathtub and run tepid water through the soil for a few minutes until water runs out the bottom drainage holes.	The better the condition of your soil, the better your garden will be. An old garbage can with the bottom cut out and turned upside down will provide a great composting container for your kitchen wastes, coffee grounds and filters, dead leaves from houseplants and leaves that blow in from the neighbors trees and shrubs	Winter is a good time to line up an arborist for the spring pruning of your trees. Be sure to avoid tree trimmers who recommend topping and lack an understanding of the branch collar and branch bark ridge.	Strawberry plants should be mulched with four to five inches of a loose mulch to prevent the freezing and thawing of the ground (frost heaving) this winter. Such soil temperature changes tear roots and increase chances of plant death by spring.
Week 4
In some parts of the world wood ash is recommended as a fertilizer due to its high potassium content. In Western Colorado, wood ashes are best placed in with the other trash and sent to the landfill. (Be sure they are cool before placing in with flamable material or a fire may result.) Wood ash are too high in salt to add to our already salty soils. And we already have excessive amounts of potassium and adding more may result in nutrient imbalances and problems with other nutrients.	Young seedlings can be severely injured from "sunscald" during the winter months. This is more severe when the sun's heat is reflected off snow. Brush or screening placed on the south and west sides of these young seedlings will help protect these plants.	Terrariums exposed to the sun will become overheated. Drops of moisture will form on the inside of the glass. Move these glass enclosed plantings out of the direct sun.	Do you forget where your perennials are planted during their dormant stage? You can identify each by painting a picture of it, or writing its name, on a stone and placing the stone in your garden where the flower will come up next year. The rocks will help you visualize your garden during the winter months so you can consider changes you might make when spring comes.		A wildscaped yard is a small habitat area that provides places for birds, toads, frogs and small mammals to feed and drink, escape from predators and raise their young. It can be as simple as providing feeders, birdbaths, and nest boxes for birds, or as elaborate as creating rock lined ponds and restoring native vegetation. Plan now to wildscape a portion on your yard next year.	When ordering apple trees for spring planting, here are a few tips. 1. order trees on a Malling 7a rootstock. This rootstock is semi-dwarf and also is less susceptible to root rot organisms. 2. Order spur type trees. These trees have a more upright growth habit, require less pruning and produce more fruit per inch of branch than the standard type tree.
Week 5
The pruning of fruit trees should be delayed until early March. Pruning prior to cold weather can create problems with "black heart" disease and other dehydration problems.	Winter injury with our temperate zone plants is due to dehydration not cold. Use of mulches, tree wraps and shade devices as well as delaying pruning until spring all help reduce winter dehydration problems.	Colorado Commercial Pesticide Applicators needing update training credits to maintain their license should plan on attending the Tri River Area Pesticide Applicator Workshops scheduled for early spring. Call 970 244-1834 for further information.