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Letter to the editor

It's time to take care of equipment

By MARY COLLISTER
Published December 28, 2007

It is hard to believe that winter has begun.

The temperatures we have been enjoying certainly seem more springlike. The humidity even seems high for this time of year.

The recent rains were a welcome relief as everything was very dry. Usually in December I can get away with only adding supplemental water about every two weeks, but with the temperatures in and out of the 80s, I have had to continue weekly watering. Hopefully it will cool down and our yards' need for water will decrease.

As gardeners, we can always find something to do in our yards, but if you're strapped for time, there is really not much that absolutely has to be done right now.

Keep the leaves raked from the grass, just raking them into the planting beds as mulch or placing them in your compost pile.

Also, weeds need to be removed. They are opportunistic and if ignored this time of year will strike with a vengeance in the spring. Plan now to apply a pre-emergent weed killer to your lawn in late January or early February. Mowing has been curtailed, but don't let your lawn get too long as this will also encourage the growth of weeds.

If your grass appears brown and dry, it may be from lack of water or just a natural dormancy. But if the brown has a tinge of red, the grass probably has a fungus. If so, spray with a fungicide twice during the next two to three weeks. Even if we do get some cold weather, it won't kill the fungus, which can kill out a lawn fairly rapidly.

This is a good time for some mental exercises about your landscape. Think about what worked and what didn't in the past year. Plan your improvements and changes. Make lists so you don't forget.

Continue to look for ways to conserve water, and take a moment to look through those gardening catalogs you receive throughout the year. Mark a few choices you might want to try in your landscape. Be daring, try something new each season. It makes gardening more creative and fun.

Clean out your tool shed or garage. Look closely at all your tools. Replace or repair as needed. The correct tool in good shape will help make your landscaping chores easier.

This is a good time to overhaul your power equipment. Change oil, filters and sharpen blades. Wipe your metal tools, including rakes, shovels and hand tools, with oil. Lightly sand the wooden handles with a fine sandpaper and rub with a protective oil or stain.

Make sure your tools are stored away from moisture so they don't rust. Renew your resolve to clean the tools after each use to increase their life span. Get rid of duplicates or tools you don't use. Some gardeners like to store their metal tools, such as trowels and shovels, stuck into a bucket of dry sand. This will help keep them clean and rust free.

Mentally improving your landscape and physically preparing your tools for the spring will put you ahead of the garden season. Take the time to do this now while continuing to enjoy your winter garden.

If you are still looking for gifts this time of year, think about giving croton (Codiaeum variegatum). The colors of the foliage are spectacular and it seems like the specimens I have seen in the garden centers are just more beautiful than usual. This plant can be enjoyed in the house and then planted in the garden. Wrap the pot in foil or gift wrap, and you have a colorful, useful gift. Make sure you provide care and planting instructions to the new owner.

Cacti are readily available, too. Look for those in 4- or 6-inch pots. The grafted cacti are very colorful and also make a great gift for children. These are a hardy addition to someone's window garden. Wrap the pot in ribbon for a festive look.

Orchids decked out in holiday finery seem to be popular this year. I have seen multi-stemmed blooming Dendrobium for under $20. This would be a great hostess gift. The flowers will last for weeks even if the recipient is not a gardener.

You're probably safe to skate through the rest of 2007 with very little activity in your garden. This time of year usually finds us short of time, so if you have to neglect your garden this is probably the best time of year to do so; just plan on getting back out there after the first of the year.

[Last modified December 28, 2007, 01:42:17]