December landscaping tips
If you’re in the southeast like we are, you know how unpredictable the weather can be (especially this time of year). It can be snowing one day and 70 degrees and sunny the next! While the weather can be unpredictable, it’s still best to be consistent with your landscape maintenance – yes, even in the winter! Here are some garden-related chores to tackle this month:
Continue to mulch leaves from your lawn. Mulching leaves is much better for your yard – and the environment – than raking. Shredding up leaves enriches the soil as they break down further, helps insects like butterflies and moths who overwinter in the leaf litter, and it saves time (and your back!). While you can buy a leaf mulcher, it could save you time and money to simply run over the leaves with your lawnmower to chop them up!
Plant shade trees, fruit trees and evergreen shrubs. While you can often continue planting even once there’s snow on the ground, you might be too cold for that. So, get a head start this December before you freeze your fingers off. Not sure what plants would go best in your yard? Check out one of last month’s blog posts all about native trees to plant this fall. If you’re still unsure or have more questions, reach out to us or visit our store in downtown Nashville. We’re happy to help!
Plant tulip, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, and daffodil bulbs. Most people think of spring and summer as the times to plant. While these floral beauties bloom in the spring, it’s important to plant them during the optimal window, which is about six weeks before hard frost freezes the ground. Need tips on planting bulbs? Check out our bulb-planting blog!
Relocate established plants, and continue planting balled and burlapped trees and shrubs. This is the best time to relocate and plant trees and shrubs, as they’ve gone dormant until spring, and you don’t have to worry about stunting their growth. This is also a great opportunity to make a sustainable choice and repurpose your live Christmas tree once the holidays have passed. Many cities – including Nashville – and counties have tree drop-off locations where they repurpose the tree, whether by turning it into mulch or taking it to the lake to become a fish habitat.
Provide food and water to your area’s wintering birds. Some common birds that stick it out for Tennessee winters are the American Robin, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, and many more. Depending on the bird, they may enjoy seeds, nuts, mealworms, and a host of other foods. Take a look at the birds in your area and research what foods are most enjoyed by the birds you want to attract. If you have children or grandchildren, feeding the birds could be a fun activity to do together over the holidays.
Most importantly, sit back and enjoy the holiday season! Let your lawn take a breather as you hopefully spend extra time with loved ones. Once spring rolls around, you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Not to mention, you’ll be the envy of your neighbors as your healthy, well-cared-for yard and garden spring to life and get a jumpstart on the growing season!
If you’re ready to go but need some assistance, or if you’re completely unsure where to start, give us a call at 615-244-8949, or visit our garden center in downtown Nashville at 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. If you’ve worked with us before and would like to work with your existing designer, simply fill in their name in the “project details” section. We can’t wait to work with you, and we want to wish you a happy holiday season!
Originally published at Gardens of Babylon