By December, much of your North Carolina garden has gone into hibernation. However, that doesn’t mean the gardener in you has to hibernate as well. Let’s look at some December gardening tips for North Carolina.
Add some winter color with cold-resistant flowers. Pansies and violas don’t just maintain color throughout the winter; they can also survive a frost or freeze. Plants with similar qualities include winter iris and jasmine, primrose, snowdrops, and Christmas rose.
Plant leafy greens. Lettuce, cabbage, kale, spinach, and other leafy greens make for great salads to go with the hearty stews slow-cooking all day and waiting for you when you get home. Plant them early so they’re ready for the cold.
Don’t forget root vegetables. Those stews and pot roasts wouldn’t be the same without carrots, radishes, turnips, and other root vegetables. Plant them in time so they’re ready to help warm and fill the stomach and spirit when it’s cold outside!
Grow fragrant herbs in your winter garden. Rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, and other herbs are cold-hardy and thrive in the North Carolina winter.
Make sure soil stays moist. Except in the coldest parts of the state, freezes don’t last long and don’t go deep, so you can grow cold-hardy plants in December. Just make sure you keep watering the soil.
Make space. Thin new seedlings and create space for the December harvest you hope to reap.
Protect the vulnerable. If you’re in a part of the state that experiences significant frosts and snowfall, use durable row covers to protect crops from cold snaps. Cover trees and shrubs that are susceptible to the cold no matter what part of the state you’re in.
Build a greenhouse. The cold outside doesn’t mean it can’t be warm inside. Take advantage of the many sunny winter days in North Carolina by building a greenhouse. With one, you can grow plants that couldn’t make it outside, or you can help your spring plants get a great head start.
Perform cleanups. Clean up your flower and vegetable beds to protect them from diseases and insect pests in the future. Earn extra points by composting or recycling the waste.
Get ready for spring. Plant bulbs, shrubs, and trees that flower in spring. Water and feed as recommended to give them a strong start when spring returns.
Prune trees and shrubs. Contrary to what you might think, winter is actually the best time for pruning many trees and shrubs.
LandArt Solutions is a fully licensed, full-service landscaping services provider. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, we can partner with you to realize the full potential of your yard, garden, and outdoor living spaces. Let’s talk about how we can provide solutions!
