Wichita gardener’s almanac for Dec. 5
Christmas-tree shopping — If you are shopping for a cut Christmas tree at a tree lot or garden center, be sure the one you pick out is still fresh: Gently hold a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off in your hand. Or shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see a lot of green needles fall, though interior brown ones probably will. Make sure the tree has a fresh cut on the bottom before placing it in warm water in the house. Be sure the stump never goes dry, or you will have to make a fresh cut to the base. Place the tree in as cool a place as possible, avoiding proximity to fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, heat ducts and television sets.
Poinsettia care — To keep your poinsettia looking good for a long time —and modern varieties can last a while — follow these best practices by Ward Upham of K-State in the Horticulture 2015 newsletter:
Place the poinsettia in a sunny window or the brightest area of the room, but don’t let it touch the window. The best temperatures are 65 to 75 during the day and 60 to 65 degrees at night. Be careful not to leave the plant by a drafty undraped window at night.
Check the soil daily, sticking your finger an inch deep. When it’s dry at that level, water with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.
Checklist for damaged trees — While Wichita’s trees did not suffer damage in last weekend’s winter storm, some surrounding areas did. Whether or not you have a damaged tree, it’s good to keep this checklist from Upham for the next time it happens.
1. Be safe: Check for downed power lines or hanging branches. Don’t venture under the tree until it is safe. If large limbs are hanging precariously, contact a certified arborist to take care of it safely. Downed limbs and trees also can be under compression, and cutting through such a limb can cause it to release energy and whip, possibly causing injury.
2. Clean up: Remove debris so it’s not a tripping hazard, and wait for any ice to melt before beginning work.
3. Decide the tree’s future. If the bark has been split exposing the cambium or if the main trunk split, the tree probably won’t live and should be removed. If the tree’s form is destroyed, replacement is the best option. Topping, where all the main branches are cut and there are only stubs left, is not recommended because it leaves a weaker tree more apt to break again or get diseases.
4. Prune broken branches to the next larger branch or to the trunk, cutting at the collar area between the branch and the trunk and not flush with the trunk.
Consider hiring a trained arborist to perform pruning work safely, and so that subsequent storm breakage is less likely to occur. Upham also recommends the website www.arborday.org; search for “storm damage.”
Garden events
Illuminations — Botanica’s Christmas lights display runs through Dec. 31 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) through Dec. 31. Hours for Illuminations are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8, $7 for members, $6 for ages 3 to 12; children under 3 get in free. Advance tickets can be purchased at Botanica or QuikTrip. More info: botanica.org.
Luminary Walk — The final night of the Luminary Walk at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston is Saturday night, with candles and lights, roasted marshmallows at bonfires, entertainment, stories and refreshments from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The Konza Ringers handbell ensemble will play at 7 p.m. Admission is $5; $4 for members, seniors and college students; and $2 for ages 3 to 15. Children under 3 get in free. More info: dyckarboretum.org.
Prairie Window Concert — Folk-country singer-songwriter Mark Erelli will perform a Prairie Window Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston. It will be in the Prairie Pavilion overlooking the lake. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children plus tax; call 620-327-8127, dyckarboretum.org. Appetizers from Morning Harvest Farm will be for sale during intermission.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for Dec. 5."