December Gardening In Michigan

The place I stay in southeast Michigan, my backyard is firmly located in zone 6. This implies solely evergreens thrive in winter. Every part else both dies or goes dormant. Gardening in December is a quiet time right here, however I nonetheless discover a number of issues to do.

Terrarium Gardens

I attempt to preserve my terrarium gardens going all 12 months, however they get essentially the most consideration in winter. This 12 months I picked out some fairly African violets, a peperomia, a snake plant, and a spider plant to clean up my largest terrarium.

Over time, I’ve discovered that it’s almost unimaginable to maintain a terrarium in good well being indefinitely. Nevertheless, some upkeep and care can preserve it going longer. All through winter, I concentrate on these items:

• Discovering the correct quantity of sunshine. Terrarium crops are tropical. They like oblique gentle. Discovering the stability between an excessive amount of and never sufficient is essential.
• Discovering the moisture stability. That is one other tough stability. I’ve to watch the terrarium and crack it open just a little to air it out or so as to add extra water. Extreme moisture can rot crops.
• Eradicating failed crops. Fungus can take maintain rapidly in a terrarium, so I control it and take away dying crops rapidly.
• My houseplants additionally get some additional care in December—trimming again, fertilizing, misting—however most of my focus goes to the terrarium.

Shifting Snow

Whether or not or not we get a number of December snow right here relies on the 12 months. Typically it begins early, and different years it waits for the New Yr. If there may be snow in December, shoveling is a daily chore.

I shovel the driveway, slightly than blow the snow as a result of I benefit from the train. I additionally use that snow to guard perennials. So long as it’s not salty from the street, snow acts like a blanket for my peonies, bleeding coronary heart, hostas, and extra.

Having fun with Winter Veggies

Yearly, I benefit from the fruits of the labors of my native farmers. As a member of a local CSA, neighborhood supported agriculture, I get recent greens from the tip of Might by mid-December.

At this late time within the season, I see cold weather produce and storage greens. The farmers use plastic coverings to extend the life of lettuces, radishes, and greens. In addition they give us winter squashes and pumpkins, potatoes, parsnips, turnips, and different roots.

My favorites in December are the squashes. There’s nothing like a heat, hearty dinner of butternut, acorn, spaghetti, and black futsu squashes in December. I like to avoid wasting the seeds too, for roasting.

Whereas caring for winter crops and baking and roasting within the kitchen, I additionally use December’s down time to plan for subsequent 12 months. That is one of the best time to dream of what comes subsequent.