Believe it or not, the last of the chrysanthemums are still hanging on. We've had a few mornings of light frost---the idle threat that tempuratures are about to drop. As I look out the window in the morning, I see that the roses have yet to get the memo as well.
It's the nagging reminder that it's time to get a few December tasks done.
So here is our December run down...
1. Complete any remaining pruning, cleaning, and discard diseased leaf material.
2. Untuck your bulbs from the cold! -- Pull your tulips from refrigeration (read how we care for our bulbs and plant our tulips)
Here in northern California we "force" our tulips. What this means is that we don't get enough natural "cold." We refrigerate our tulips for 8-10 weeks (ballpark) to mimic the cold temperatures the bulbs would otherwise experience being in the ground in colder areas of our country or Europe/the Netherlands. (The majority of our tulips originate from the latter.)
We take our tulips out from refrigeration mid-December and plant them out in our beds. We can expect our first tulips to emerge and be ready to harvest by early March.
3. Sow early or hardy Spring annuals
Always know your last spring frost date! In our growing area of 9b, we estimate our last frost around February 1st. Early or Hardy Spring annuals prefer cooler temperatures so we sow these seeds in early December. Once seedlings are ready, we harden them off and transplant out once we are clear of frost. We often use row cover cloth to give seedlings an extra layer of protection against the cold elements.
Plants that self sow such as Cerinthe, Larkspur and Poppies are already popping up in our garden! These plants will overwinter easily and take off as temperatures warm up in early Spring.
Stuff you'll need: Seeds, sowing trays or egg cartons, unfertilized soil, water, light, and some love.
4. Do a"health check" on garden tools
As I was out in the garden today dividing dahlias with my bonsai shears, a minute pebble got caught and chipped the blades. Furious that something so small could mess with my garden zen, I marched back to the workshop to pull out my sharpening stone and file... once again, reminding me that it's time for me to collect my other tools and to do the same.
Stuff you'll need: gloves, cleaning solution such as isopropyl alcohol or 10% bleach solution, fine metal file and/or sharpening stone, an old rag, linseed oil, sandpaper
• Wearing your gloves, gently and carefully wipe the surfaces of tools (shears, snips, and shovels, etc.) with your cleaning solution.
• If your tool needs sharpening, work carefully and follow the original angle/bevel with your file or sharpening stone.
• Use sandpaper to smooth any wooden handles.
• Protect and lubricate metal surfaces with linseed oil. The same can be done for wooden handles to prevent cracking.
Divide any Spring blooming bulbs that have been in the ground for 2+ years
Bulbs like Narcissus/Daffodils need to be pulled up every 2 to 3 years. Taking the divisions out, allows for original rootstock to have room to continue producing.
The same goes for Bearded Irises. You might notice an iconic ring of Irises forming from the original mother stock.
Be sure to use a pitchfork and gently work bulbs out of the soil and divide as needed. Be sure to re-plant readily.
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