"From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it."
–Katharine Whitehorn
"So stick up ivy and the bays,
And then restore the heathen ways..."
–Henry Vaughan
The Thanksgiving turkey had barely begun to digest for most of us, but the opening salvo of our truest commercial holiday had already been proclaimed through various media venues: SALE BEGINS @ 6 A.M. TOMORROW! And can you believe it, shoppers were actually queuing up early, to be at the front of the line. I even saw a few of you, hiding behind your Revo sunglasses.
One can’t really blame the retailers if they view this season with dollar signs ($) tied to the Yuletide spirit. So much is at stake for everyone, including us... no one wants to give an unwanted gift to a friend or loved one. That’s why I like to give plants as presents... you know, "The gift that keeps on living." Or something like that... revisit last week’s column for holiday plant care information.
Since you are planning for the holidays, your questions for the Plant Man included...
Q. What kind of plants will produce berries for Christmas?
A. Holly, especially the Chinese and English kinds can be used as decorations as small plants and then planted in the garden. In succeeding years, they may be carefully pruned to provide branches covered with berries. Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.) and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) are also useful as plants with berried branches.
Q. What's the cottony-black stuff on the bottom of my citrus leaves?
A. The cottony masses that cluster on the undersides of citrus leaves, during October to December, are Woolly white fly. The insects are covered with a white waxy powder and often are accompanied with shiny, sticky goo and black sooty mold. The insects feed by sucking the plant juices from leaves, however, they cannot fully digest all the sugars in the sap, and the excess is excreted. This fluid is called honeydew, which supports the development of the sooty mold fungus. Application of a combination of Diazinon with a horticultural oil should knock down this problem.
Q. I want to make spraying "remedies" easier for my wife. What garden sprayer do you recommend?
A. The professional quality Gilmour sprayer mixes chemicals automatically while you spray... the easiest way to spray and the end to wasted chemicals. It’s so foolproof, you might even assist your wife with some of the work.
Q. I know roses should be pruned soon. What kind of clippers should I buy for myself?
A. I highly recommend the Felco family of hand pruners... they are "simply the best pruners in the world." The original design of the Felco 2 has remained unchanged for forty years. For smaller hands, I recommend the Felco 6.
Q. Dear plant man. When will the new roses arrive in nurseries?
A. Bareroot roses will be arriving at your favorite nursery beginning this week through January. Look for the largest selection and best prices by purchasing bareroot roses early.
Q. When is the best time to transplant my camellia?
A. The only time you may transplant camellias (Camellia japonica) is now, while they are in bud and prior to flowering.
Q. Can I plant vegetables now?
A. Yes you can. Catharine prefers broccoli, but carrots, cabbage, kale, lettuce, parsley, and turnips can also be planted either by seed or from starts.
Christmas lights, pine boughs, and plastic Santa Clauses... the race is on to see who has the flashiest holiday decorations. So stick up the ivy and the bays; it’s a secular holiday anyway. Savor the holiday spirit. See you next time.
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