DECEMBER HORTICULTURAL

AND GARDEN TIPS

A few topics (Lawn & Turf, Tree & Shrub, Flowers, Fruits & Nuts, and much more) are highlighted this month. So, to learn about what you should be doing in the month of DECEMBER click on GARDEN TIPS.

For over four decades (since 1983) the Tulsa Master Gardeners have been serving the public by offering research-based horticultural information to residents of Tulsa and the surrounding area. The Tulsa Master Gardener Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. As such, it receives no city, state or federal funding for its Tulsa-area community outreach programs. Instead, ALL of the Tulsa Master Gardener programs are self-funded by its own fundraisers and from member and public donations.

Because of the size of our Foundation membership, the number/diversity/ activity level of our various community outreach programs, and our overall financial strength your Tulsa Master Gardener organization is considered to be one of the top five Master Gardener County programs in the entire nation. 

Tulsa Master Gardeners offer two annual public opportunities for the community to donate to "the cause": the April Plant Sale and the June Garden Tour. We strive to keep all of our programs fully funded year-in and year-out so, in addition to these two programs, we also offer a donation opportunity at year end. There are two ways to donate: you may donate to an Agency Fund (for annual expenses) and/or to an Endowment Fund (for long-term viability).

To view a video that better describes our business purpose, community outreach, and some of the fun that we have, click on

WHY I LIKE BEING A TULSA MASTER GARDENER

(then click on the video to start watching)

=====================================

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the annual expenses of the Tulsa Master Gardener program, click on

TULSA MASTER GARDENER FUND

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the long-term success of the Tulsa Master Gardener program, click on  

TULSA MASTER GARDENER ENDOWMENT FUND

=====================================



We thank ALL of you for having been such faithful contributors in the past. And we thank you for your future consideration and participation. We are so proud to be a part of the Tulsa area - such a giving community!

The Compost Connection

From Green Country Master Gardeners

In Composting, does the end of the year and the change of seasons also mean the end of the composting cycle? Yes, IF your decision is based solely on weather temperatures and depending on your geographic location. But we are in northeastern Oklahoma so it is not necessarily the end of our composting cycle. If you, as a gardener, need a break, take a break. On the other hand, year-round composters often never take a break. This is the season composters make those changes they have been planning to the compost area. This is the time to enlarge, downsize, relocate, or reinforce the compost system. The following are a few things to keep in mind throughout the cold winter months.

The composting process only stops when the ground is frozen for a certain length of time. In our zone because there are short periods of warm temperatures through the winter months not all compost invertebrates die; some are left to continue the decomposition process, albeit a little slower.

The article “Can You Compost in the Winter?” from the University of New Hampshire Extension answers several questions concerning the maintenance of a winter home compost system. Please take a few minutes to peruse the resources in this hyperlink for more information and specific guidelines.

Do not worry about turning or rotating your compost in the coldest temperatures. If there is an extremely cold period for weeks at a time you may even want to protect or shelter your compost. This can be done by layering with leaves, or even bags of leaves or hay. Click on HLA-6448: Backyard Composting In Oklahoma for more details. Be aware that there will likely not be as much material available to be composted in winter, such as green grasses, vegetation, and garden waste. Remember what can be included in a healthy compost pile, as well as what should not be included. Be mindful of NO meats, dairy products, diseased plants, wood ashes, or bones.

Click on Tips for Successful Winter Composting for information on Winter Care of Compost, Site and Design of Compost Piles, Fall Prep-Winterize Existing Piles, and other composting tips.

So, to answer the original question . . . does the end of the year and the change of seasons also mean the end of the composting cycle? The answer is . . . ONLY if you want it to and you need to take a break!

A couple of other handy resources are:

HLA-6436: Healthy Garden Soils

L-432: Seasonal Landscape Maintenance

As always, please see our website at tulsamastergardeners.org. Click the link on the main page for Lawn & Garden Help, scroll down for the link for Composting. In this section, you will see several resources which may be helpful to a home composter. You can call our Master Gardener Office (918-746-3701) at the Tulsa County Extension Center or visit us from 9am - 4 p.m. Mon-Fri at Tulsa County Fairgrounds located at 4116 East 15th Street. 

WEATHERING YOUR GARDEN:

THE QUESTION THAT WE ALL WANT ANSWERED . . . DOES SANTA CLAUS LIKE TO GARDEN?

We know what Santa Claus does in the winter, but what about spring and summer? Is he like us? Does he garden? Or is the weather too harsh in the North Pole to grow anything?

Let’s start with the most important element of gardening - the weather. The North Pole is known as the Icy Desert. That's because skies there are mostly clear and the sea is frozen. Therefore, water cannot evaporate to produce rain.

Then there's the lack of sunshine. Spring in the North Pole only lasts a few weeks followed by 3 months of summer. By contrast, winter lasts 9 months, thus making it the coldest of the poles with an average temperature of 0-20 degrees Fahrenheit. With no rain, very little sun, and more cold than heat, how can anything grow? Well, you would be surprised!

Some examples of North Pole plants include sedges, grasses, liverworts, shrubs and cushion plants not to mention more than 400 varieties of flowers. Santa even grows his own reindeer moss.

If the jolly old elf wants to take a break in the shade, he can relax under such trees as willow, birch, juniper along with some woody dwarf shrubs.

The plants not only provide food for the Clauses, but also for the animals that live there from the large polar bear to the small arctic hare.

If Mrs. Clause wants to do some home-grown cooking, she can choose among a variety of vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, peas, lettuce, radishes, rutabaga, Swiss chard, and turnips), followed by a cobbler made with home-grown berries. Basically, the same plants that we grow in cooler weather here.

So, if you ever want to give Santa something besides cookies and milk, you might want to consider a new pair of gardening gloves!

NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO

HAVE YOUR SOIL TESTED

Well, Old Man Winter is knocking on our doorstep and all those gorgeous, glossy catalogs from the seed and plant nursery companies are rolling in. Now it is time to plan for next year’s garden. There is something you can do right now to get a head start on your spring planting. It’s the perfect time to get your soil tested! 

Why is it the perfect time? Because if you sample your soil and get it tested now, you have time to adjust for any nutrients that may be low. By making necessary nutrient supplements now the soil has time to adjust over the winter and will be ready for you when you hit the ground running next spring. Click on SOIL TEST to learn the proper steps in sampling and testing.

FIREPLACE ASHES:

WHAT TO DO AND

NOT TO DO WITH THEM

For several years, this article has been published early in the winter season when wood-burning fireplaces are starting to be used. So, if you are a long-time reader, you will recognize this topic. But, for others it may be the first time seeing it.

To get straight to the point, as environmentally sound as it may seem to recycle fireplace ashes in your garden, it is actually a very bad idea to do so. Dispose of them in other ways. Click on FIREPLACE ASHES to learn of the scientific reason.

CHRISTMAS TREE CARE

The sentiment of the Christmas tree as the focal point of our decorations for the season is certainly understandable. And, if you follow a few simple steps, selecting your perfect tree can be an enjoyable experience. First, the questions.....

Where will the tree be displayed?

How much room do you have?

Do you want a pre-cut tree or artificial tree?

These and many other questions and factors may come into play as you make your decision. For a bit of help as well as some tried-and-true tree care techniques, click on CHRISTMAS TREE CARE.

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

TO POINSETTIA CARE

The Poinsettia, with its vibrant red and green foliage, is a beloved symbol of the holiday season. Proper care is essential to ensure that this iconic plant graces your home with its beauty throughout the festive period and beyond. To keep these striking plants thriving, click on POINSETTIA CARE to better understand and implement proper care practices.

MISTLETOE:

KISS AND TELL

With the help of recent gusty winds, our Oklahoma trees are now sporting their stately, leaf-bare, late autumn profiles. Not every tree is stark and vacant - some limbs are adorned by a shrub-like perennial (actually, a parasite) that we recognize as our State of Oklahoma floral emblem - the mistletoe.  

On a more personal level, mistletoe is a multifaceted symbol during the holiday season, relating to a combination of joy, warmth, peace, love, goodwill, and celebration. It has a storied past with both a rich history and botanical significance. Click on MISTLETOE to explore the origins, uses, and peculiar nature of mistletoe, with a focus on its relevance in Oklahoma.

USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONES:

UPDATED MAP AND INFO

Oklahoma's unique climate presents both challenges and opportunities for us as gardeners. Sometimes it works in our favor... and sometimes not. Fortunately, there is a very handy tool at our disposal to help us select the proper plants for our geographical area and climate - the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

This map was created as a guide for gardeners and farmers to know what plants are most likely to survive and thrive in their particular growing area. On November 15, 2023 the USDA released an updated version of the 2012 map.

For instructions on how to acquire a free download of the map, its useful features, plus other related useful information, click on USDA HARDINESS ZONES.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since 1983, the Tulsa Master Gardeners have been serving the public by offering research-based horticultural information to residents of Tulsa and the surrounding area. The Tulsa Master Gardener Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization. As such, it receives no city, state or federal funding for its Tulsa community outreach programs. In fact, the Tulsa's Master Gardener programs are self-funded by its own fundraisers, from member donations, and from public donations.

The main Tulsa Master Gardener fundraiser is its Annual Spring Plant Sale that is held each April. Other fundraisers include the Garden Tour and Garage Sale in June. And, one of the most important income sources that sometimes gets overlooked are the personal and corporate donations. These are so important in helping us to meet our financial obligations and we want you to know they are very much appreciated. 

MG Endowment Fund

The Tulsa Master Gardeners have been around for over three decades and we plan to be around for many more decades. Furthermore, we are considered one of the top five Master Gardener County programs in the entire nation. We are because of the size of our Foundation membership, the number, diversity and activity level of our various community outreach programs, and our overall financial strength! 

So, we are pleased to announce, in partnership with the Tulsa Community Foundation, the Master Gardener Foundation has established an Endowment Fund to ensure our long-term financial strength. Our plans are to build this fund for many years before making any withdrawals from it. Please consider us as you make your annual gift giving as well as longer-term estate planning decisions. Remember, all donations are fully tax deductible! 

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the long-term success of the Tulsa Master Gardener program, click on  

TULSA MASTER GARDENER ENDOWMENT FUND.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the Tulsa Master Gardener program's annual expenses, click on

TULSA MASTER GARDENER FUND.

We thank ALL of you for having been such faithful contributors both in the past and in advance for your future consideration and participation! So proud to be a part of the Tulsa area - such a giving community!

=====================================================Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.

=====================================================

You can get answers to all of your gardening questions:

TULSA MASTER GARDENERS

4116 East 15th Street Tulsa, OK 74112

918-746-3701

mg@tulsamastergardeners.org