Southern California December Garden To-Do List

December in Southern California can still sometimes offer warm atmospheric condition , but more often than not we see coolheaded temperature . With the vacation time of year upon us , it ’s the perfect time to reflect on the past yr ’s lessons and to look to the garden for seasonal inspiration . The holidays are a time for special meals , and with our cool - season vegetable garden now in full swing , we can enjoy the taste and nutrition of winter crop .

Maintain tools . Remove rust and grease on all your instrument . employ a wire brush for large tools and shovel , and use a okay steel - wool brushing on small-scale tool . Once cock are sporting , focus on focus them with a whetstone . Maintaining the original slant of the blade is the goal . I like to use a workbench to hold pruners and shear down to ensure I get a consistent slant when sharpening . Once sharpen , lubricate cock using a auto or synthetical oil . acquire more on how to clean and sharpen a variety of dissimilar tool here .

industrial plant winter - blooming aboriginal . twilight and winter are dear time to plant , as pose etymon established with winter rains is ideal . There is still plenty of time to imbed California natives , in particular , before natural spring . Be thoughtful of winter interest and providing seasonal food for thought for pollinators by incorporate winter - blooming species into your garden . For example , two favourite winter flub for hummingbirds are California fuchsia ( Epilobium canum , Zones 8–11 ) and Western aquilege ( Aquilegia Taiwan , Zones 8–11 ) .

make homemade holiday décor . Take a looking around for vacation decoration inspiration this month . There are plenty of seasonal items that you might be capable to find in your garden . A few good options are magnolia farewell ( Magnoliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , dormant grapevine vines , and eucalyptus pods ( Eucalyptusspp . and cvs . , Zones 8–11 ) . Add crimson berries from toyon ( Heteromelesarbutifolia , Zones 7–11 ) for a festal spot .

Study up on fruit tree diagram pruning . The time to prune your deciduous yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is just around the box ( January to early February ) . Now is the time to refresh your memory on pruning proficiency . Remember the “ 4 Ds ” of pruning : removing the dead , diseased , discredited , and slanting branch ( those offset growing in ) . Bareroot yield trees should also become available to plant in the ground this month . hear more about pruning your deciduous fruit trees here :

shine on the past season of horticulture . This is an often - look out over chore that is very beneficial to a gardener ’s growth . We think we will think all that goes on in a season , but the reality is that it is sluttish to forget . Take the time to pose and mull over on what you have institute and observed this past year . This will help you make decision in the future . Also , deliberate writing out a calendar of seasonal tasks for the yr to follow .

— Cara Hanstein is a point gardener at the Huntington Library , Art Museum , and Botanical Gardens in San Marino , California .

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Midwest December Garden To-Do List

Southern Plains December Garden To-Do List

Northern California December Garden To-Do List

South December Garden To-Do List

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