Winter (December - February)

• See Guidelines for Throughout the Year
• Spray tender plants (such as: citrus, bougainvillea, princess flower, hibiscus, blue potato vine, heliotrope, sea lavender, lavender star flower) with Cloud Cover
• When temperatures below 32 degrees are predicted, make sure all plants are adequately watered and spray leaves of tender plants with water late in the day to help protect them from frost damage
• Water plants under eaves or overhangs during rainy season when irrigation system is off
• Remove debris from well lights, check bulbs (if applicable)
• Clean and flush gutters, downspouts, area drains and grates (if any)
• Control slugs and snails especially in Spring and Winter
• Fertilize (see Fact Sheet)

December Back to Top

• See General Guidelines appearing before the month by month section
• Plant bulbs and winter flowering annuals
• Bare root season begins later this month (roses, fruit trees, etc.)
• Continue fall clean-up begun last month
• After leaves fall, apply dormant sprays to other flowering and fruit trees and to roses - repeat in January and February
• Spray broadleaf evergreens and tender plants with Cloud Cover for protection from frost
• Prune camellias after they have finished blooming

January Back to Top

• See Guidelines above
• General garden clean-up
• Work wet soil as little as possible
• Prune roses this month or next and strip leaves in the process to decrease likelihood of disease
• Prune camellias after they have finished blooming if you want to reduce size
• Rake up and dispose of fallen camellia blossoms and leaves to prevent disease
• To maintain lawns, keep wet leaves and litter raked up. Pull any weeds. If you had weed problems last year, apply a pre-emergent herbicide now
• Dormant spray roses, fruit trees this month and in November to kill over-wintering pests
• Plant bare root roses, trees, berries, and vegetables

February Back to Top

• See General Guidelines before the month by month section
• General garden clean-up
• Bare-root planting (see January)
• Prune roses and pull off old leaves and dormant spray if you haven't already done so
• Wait until after bloom to prune spring-flowering deciduous ornamentals such as quince (or prune and bring cuttings indoors to enjoy as they open)
• Cut back Hibiscus, Abutilon (to 3’-4’), Buddleia (to 3’), Weigelia (to 5’), Lavatera (to 3’) and other deciduous shrubs to promote compact, bushy growth and control size and shape while still dormant; consult pruning book to verify timing and technique for each species (Remember that some plants bloom only on old wood (hydrangeas, for example) so you must leave some old wood or you won’t get any blossoms this year)
• Cut back and divide some perennials: daylilies, Erigeron, Stachys, Iris, Nepeta, Geranium, Lamium, Ajuga, Alstromeria, Agapanthus, and most ground covers
• Prune camellias after they have finished blooming to shape and control size (if necessary)
• Fertilize deciduous fruit trees 2-3 weeks before they bloom and other mature trees and shrubs once spring growth starts
• Fertilize lawns
• Water if rains are light
• Dead head rhododendrons and azaleas after bloom, and cut back if leggy by a maximum of 1/3 per year (latent buds exist along the stems of rhodies and azaleas so stub cuts are ok)
• Azaleas and camellias are both prone to petal blight: brown lesions develop, and the flowers rot. Control the disease by picking up and discarding fallen blossoms and leaves
• Wash aphids off blooming bulbs with a light spray of water and follow with Safer’s Insecticidal Soap
• If buds are still closed on deciduous plants, apply horticultural oil to kill some over-wintering insects. There is an environmentally friendly, all-season oil made from soybeans called Bug Oil that is lighter than petroleum-based oils and can be used all year long. An 8-ounce pouch is $4.95 plus shipping. To order, call the Natural Gardening Company (707.766.9303)
• Sow seeds of beets, carrots, chard, leeks, lettuce, onion, spinach, peas, broccoli, parsley and chives and plant sets of onions and garlic.
• Repot cymbidiums if bulging out of pot between now and July.