December 2001

Edible

Start basil and chives indoors. Place them in a sunny window. Call 773-233-0476 for free seeds and fact sheets.

Save cardboard cylinders from holiday wrapping paper for making cutworm collars. Cut cylinders into three inch tubes to fit over transplants.

Drain your garden hose and store for the winter.

Fluttering moths in your kitchen? Indianmeal moths are often brought into the home during the holiday cooking season in cereal or grain products. Moths are 3/8 inches long with 1/2 inch long brownish-gray wings. Adults lay eggs and small whitish larva with dark heads feed on grains. Check foods for larva and place all insect-free foods in insect-proof containers such as glass jars or plastic containers.

Ornamental

Cut down your own Christmas tree at a local farm. Call 773-233-0476 for a free listing of farms or check out our Christmas Trees & More site.

Choose a fresh Christmas tree. A fresh tree will have a healthy, green appearance. Needles should be flexible and not fall off if you run a branch through your hand.

Keep the water level in your tree stand above the base (cut end) of the tree. If the base dries out, resin will form over the cut end and the tree will stop absorbing water. Do not add commercially prepared mixes, aspirin, sugar, or other additives to the water. Research has shown that plain water is best.

Move your live tree outside after Christmas and decorate it for the birds. Place the tree in a bucket of damp sand. Put on strings of popcorn and cranberries. Apples, oranges, left over breads, and pinecones covered with peanut butter dipped in bird seed can be added. Push the edible ornaments well into the tree for best results.

Punch holes in the foil of your holiday plants so water can drain. Water plants in the sink allowing them to drain thoroughly before putting them back on display.

Plant any leftover bulbs now! Planting last month would have been best, but our warm, dry fall has extended the bulb planting time. Water all bulbs before cold weather inevitably sets in.

Water all shrubs, especially evergreens, before the ground freezes. This will prevent drying out or browning of the needles.

Become a Master Gardener. Classes begin in January at Garfield Park Conservatory or can be taken online. Call 773-233-0476 for more information.