Timely Tips

What to Do in December 2024
Weekly Gardening Timely Tips from
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

Dec. 14 to 20

Perennials: Did you know you can plant many native plant and other perennial seeds outdoors in winter? Special equipment is not required. Many hardy types require a cold period to break dormancy for germination. An easy method uses vented recycled milk or other beverage containers filled with potting mix where the seed is planted and watered. Placed outdoors, the containers provide protection from animals and harsh weather, and promote germination in spring. The containers should be checked occasionally and watered if needed, but you will not have to worry about hardening off tender seedlings. For more information, contact your local Cooperative Extension.

If any of your rose bushes suffered from blackspot or rust during the summer, gather up and remove any fallen leaves still on the ground to reduce the chance of spreading the infection next year.

Flowers: Add winter interest to outdoor containers by including evergreen and holly boughs. If you are not using excess materials from holiday decorations, see “Trees and Shrubs” below.

Fruits and Vegetables: Continue to harvest leeks and other protected winter vegetables. Now that fruit trees are bare, take a good look at their form. Remove dead branches. Mark weak, crossing, or unproductive shoots with surveyor’s tape or other soft material for removal in spring. Unsure of how much to prune? See the Cornell Guide to Growing Fruit at Home at https://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/60165302-b299-433a-952d-9ac82cc63849/content
or contact your local Cooperative Extension for advice.

Trees and Shrubs: It’s ok to use some small trimmings of holly and other evergreens to make garland or add as filler to flower arrangements. Save corrective pruning for spring as growth resumes.

Lawns: Keep cars and foot traffic off of frozen grass.

Houseplants: If the houseplants are looking a bit dusty, it’s time to clean them. Many foliage plants may be washed off in the sink or shower when they need to be watered. Make sure their containers drain thoroughly. Use a soft brush to clean plants with fuzzy leaves, and cacti and succulents that do best in drier conditions.

General: Need a last minute holiday gift for a special gardener? A subscription to the Home Garden Lecture Series through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester. There is one webinar lecture per month from January through May, and a tour in June while space lasts. Advance registration is required. The whole webinar series is $45; individual webinars are $5 each. Check out the brochure at 2025_Home_Gardening_Lecture_Series_brochure_2024-10-30-2024.pdf For more information, please call CCE at 914-285-4640, 914-285-4620 or email westchester@cornell.edu

Last updated December 13, 2024