UGA Cooperative Extension

Putnam County Cooperative Extension Office:
Lake Country Master Gardener Association (LCMGA)

December Garden Tips

First Week  

• Remember to feed the birds!
• Prune muscadines from now until February.
• A good time to plant fruit trees, trees and shrubs.
• Cut mums back when they finish blooming. Plant roses.
• Still time to plant daffodil, tulip and hyacinth bulbs.

Second Week

• Time to start paper whites for December fragrance.
• Plant Lenten roses.
• Keep an eye on houseplants for signs of mealy bugs and scale.
• Prune shrubs.
• Fertilize pansies with liquid 10-10-10 every two weeks and remember to dead head spent blooms.

Third Week

• Take hardwood cuttings of crepe myrtle, forsythia, weigelia and others. Root in 1/2 sand and 1/2 perlite.
• Winter mulch should be done now after the ground freezes to keep it frozen.
• Turn the compost pile regularly. Fertilize fescue.
• Plant hardy annual seeds.

Fourth Week

• Plant jasmine and cross vine.
• Fertilize houseplants with liquid 10-10-10 or similar half strength.
• Keep suet and bird feeders full. All birds love sunflower seeds -- even gold finches!

Fifth Week

• Take a break and enjoy the rest of the month.
• Get ready for next year!

For more information, contact your local county extension coordinator.