By Juergen Jaenicke, MG
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• If thorough Fall watering wasn’t done and protection not given to exposed broadleaved evergreens, shading with burlap, snow fencing or evergreen boughs will still help to keep water loss down during this initial period.
  ◦ Send for seed and nursery catalogs so the garden can be planned in advance.
  ◦ Inspect outdoor plantings for mouse and rabbit damage. Put wire mesh around fruit trees and other plants likely to suffer this type of damage.
  ◦ Allow poinsettias, cyclamens and other christmas flowering plants to bloom as long as they like. Feed every two weeks and put them in a cool room for the night.
  ◦ Be aware of mite damage and scale insects on houseplants. Remove by hand or wash plants with soapy water and a soft brush or cloth to remove insects and spider mites.
  ◦ Save fireplace wood ashes. They are valuable because they add potash and trace elements to the soil. However, they should be spresd thinly on the garden.
  ◦ Pruning diseased and damaged tree branches can be done now.
  ◦ Buy those houseplants that are easy to care for and can tolorate the normally difficult growing condition in the house.
  

Happy New Year!