Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Crystal Rennicke

I hope you and your families and friends enjoyed the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s hard not to catch the Holiday bug this time of year. In the spirit of giving, we’ll be giving away a prize to a lucky facebook fan Visit our fan page to find out what you can win!

A new month means a new photo challenge. December’s theme is “Cheer” so upload your favorite nature photos that correlate with the theme, Cheer. Have fun!

Happy Gardening!
—Crystal

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READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• Question of the Month
• Frugal Backyard Tip
• Submit Your Story

Park Seed, www.parkseed.com

Plant of the Month

Winterberry
Botanical name: Ilex verticillata.
Mature Size:6 to 10 feet high and wide.
Hardiness: Zones 3 to 9.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Features: Few deciduous shrubs garner winter interest like winterberry. Birds love the bright red berries.
Growing Advice: Sow seeds in containers in a cold frame in autumn. Germination may take 2 to 3 years. Transplant in early spring. Prefers organically rich, moist soil.

Prize Pick: Winter Red’s berries last until the spring.

 

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Yard Smarts

Winter Container
Instead of purchasing a winter flower arrangement, I made my own from a hanging basket. I used different varieties of holly, blue-spruce cuttings, magnolia leaves and pinecones. The arrangement lasted several months and was attractive from both inside and out. –Janet Walsh, Bel Air, Maryland

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Question of the Month

RDA/GID

Late Bloomer
Q: My forsythia bloomed in November. Will it bloom again in spring?
–Debbie Sharkey, Juneau, Wisconsin

Melinda: I often see forsythia, lilac and other spring-blooming trees and shrubs produce flowers in the fall. Drought, extreme temperature fluctuations or other stressful growing conditions often trick the plants into thinking they went through the dormant period, causing them to bloom.

The buds that flowered in November will not produce blooms next spring. But those that did not show their colors in fall or winter should flower next spring.

For more answers from Melinda, click here.

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Frugal Gardener Tip

Gone to the Dogs
Free clippings from my dog-grooming business have kept a client’s garden rabbit-free for years. He also hangs sacks of dog hair in young fruit trees to keep deer from destroying them. Another client spreads dog hair around her yard in spring so the birds can use it for nest building. –Paula Alfonsi, Almont, Michigan

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Submit Your Story

We’re looking for your best winter containers and combinations for our “Container Recipes” section.

Submit your story»

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