Plants & Pests with Nicole
December 2023
Upcoming Events
- Gage County Extension is closed December 25th in observance of Christmas.
- Gage County Extension is closed January 1st in observance of New Years Day.
- Classes for returning Master Gardeners starts January 30th, see more information below.
Christmas Trees
Master Gardener Luncheon
Join us on January 12, 2024 at 11:30am for the Master Gardener Luncheon. This is the 2nd annual luncheon to celebrate all of you and all of the wonderful volunteering you do for your communities! Thank you all!! You will be receiving your invitation in the mail by the end of the year. Let me know by January 10th if you can attend so I can have a head count for the meal.
Holiday Plant Care
Most people will purchase plants such as Christmas cacti, poinsettias, and amaryllis for Christmas gifts and decorations. Be sure to keep the plants wrapped up in a large plastic bag until they are in your warm home and any time you move them from one house to another to keep them from being harmed by the cold winter temperatures. Once in your home, do not place these plants near a door or drafty location. Also, be sure to keep the plant in a well-lit location and keep them well-watered, but not overwatered. Test the soil for moisture prior to watering and don’t allow the plants to sit in water. For longer storage, remove the fancy paper or plastic sleeve from around the plant to allow for more drainage.
Using Deicers
Deicers can negatively affect plants, soil, concrete and carpet. Select deicers wisely and use them according to direction. Deicers applied to surfaces may run off and enter soil or be splashed onto nearby vegetation. In soil, salts reduce the availability of water to plants, which can increase water stress during spring and summer. Deicing products splashed onto foliage may burn and kill plants growing adjacent to roadways. Try to avoid piling the snow up in the same location on the edge of your lawn each time it snows so the deicers aren’t always placed in the same spot on your landscape. Applying the correct rate/amount can increase product effectiveness and help reduce negative side effects. Deicers are not used to completely melt snow or ice, but to make their removal easier.
Winter Watering
We are still in a drought, making winter watering extremely important, plants still need irrigation while they are dormant. If plants are ignored through drought conditions, it may seem that they are fine for a while but the dieback from drought stress can show up three to five years later. All plants will benefit from winter watering but make newly planted trees and shrubs and evergreens the priority. Use a soaker hose to ensure that the soil is wet down to 8-12 inches deep surrounding these plants and at least out to the dripline of those trees. Make sure you irrigate on a warm day when temperatures exceed 45 degrees. Also, don’t forget to unhook your hoses from the spigot when finished watering, before nightfall.
Gifts for the Gardener
About Nicole
Email: nstoner2@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/gage-county-horticulture/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleStonerHorticulture
Twitter: @nikki_Stoner