DECEMBER
Ornamentals, Trees, Shrubs
Continue pruning the bleeders, birch, elm, maple, and willow.
Use dormant oil spray to control overwintering insects on deciduous trees and shrubs if not treated in November. Scale, mites, galls, overwintering aphids, and other insects can be a serious problem of many woody ornamental and fruit plants. Horticultural oil spray in “dormant” concentrations should be applied when the temperature is above 40 degrees F. in late fall and winter. Do not use “dormant” oils on evergreens. See OSU Pub. 7306 – Ornamental and Lawn Pest Controll.
Turfgrass
Mow cool season grasses at 2 2 1/2 inches. Mowing should be frequent enough to remove not more than one-third of the leaf blade per cutting.
Water mature grass to wet soil 4-6 inches deep when footprint impressions remain after walking over lawn.
Control broadleaf weeds in well established warm or cool-season lawns with a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer. See OSU Pub. 6421 – Controlling Weeds in Home Lawns.
Vegetables
Cool season vegetables may continue to be harvested if grown in cold frames or some version of a “hoop house” or “high tunnel”.
Miscellaneous
Soak all plantings before a predicted hard freeze.
Light pruning of evergreens can be used for Christmas decorations.
Recycle your live Christmas tree. They can be shredded and used for mulch either by you or taken to Tulsa’s green waste site on 56th street North where they will be shredded and given to Tulsa residents as free mulch. Curbside pickup is also an option, but the tree needs to be cut and bundled into 4 foot lengths.
Review the year’s schedule and make plans for next year’s improvements.
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