December What To Do Now Calendar

Care for houseplants – Clean foliage, water regularly and fertilize. Repot as necessary. For more information on caring for houseplants, go to the Bayer Advanced houseplant page. To feed and protect from insects, use Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Insect Control plus Fertilizer Plant Spikes – no spraying, no mess. Just push the spikes into the soil for up to eight weeks of nutrition and protection. To control existing insects, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-To-Use.

Care for roses – Remove faded flowers, cutting back to the first leaf with five leaflets. Roses, such as floribundas and shrubs, which bloom in clusters, can be lightly sheared after blooms fade. In northern areas, cut back plants to 12 to 18 inches. Apply winter protection as ground begins to freeze. For more on how to protect your roses in winter, go here.

Control garden weeds – This winter’s weeds are easiest to control when young, which is now. Use an appropriate weed killer, hoe or pull by hand. (Spray only the weeds you want controlled and be sure to take care in applying herbicides to prevent spray drift from damaging desirable plants.)

Control indoor pests – To control pests like spiders, fleas and ants, use Bayer Advanced™ Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray, the only non-aerosol home pest killer that kills bugs and reduces up to 99.9% of the germs* bugs may carry. For easier-than-ever control of roaches, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen® Ready-To-Use. For more information, visit the Bayer Advanced home pest control Web page. If just outdoor ants are your problem and you prefer to use a granule, use Bayer Advanced™ Triple Action Ant Killer Granules.
*Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes on hard, non-porous, non-food contact surfaces. No residual sanitizer action. Not for primary use as a sanitizer.

Control moss and algae – Cool, moist weather promotes growth of moss and algae on sides of homes, roofs and patios and in lawns. Control with Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Moss & Algae Killer Ready-To-Spray. It kills within hours and protects for months.

Control slugs and snails – Protect flowers, vegetables and other tender plants with Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Snail & Slug Killer Bait Granules. It’s safe to use around pets and wildlife.

Fertilize – Keep annual and vegetable plants healthy and vigorous with a complete fertilizer.

Harvest holiday greens – Cut evergreen foliage for holiday wreaths and swags. Use needled evergreens like cedar, fir and spruce and broadleaf plants like holly and pyracantha.

Landscape – Nurseries are full of bare-root trees, shrubs (including roses) and vines. And don’t forget early-blooming sasanqua camellias. Be sure that outdoor plants, especially roses, get a good deep thorough watering before they go dormant. Desiccation in the winter, especially for roses, is a big problem and a cause for rose plant death.

Mow – Growth of cool-season lawns has slowed. Mow as needed.

Plan for planting – Peruse garden catalogs, nurseries and garden centers for seeds, bare-root plants (including roses) and garden supplies.

Plant flowers – In the Deep South, plant cool-season annuals like pansies, violas and primrose. Cyclamens are also great for winter color. Protect from insects with Bayer Advanced™ .

Plant vegetables and herbs – In the Deep South, plant quick-growing, cool-season crops like lettuce, chard and spinach for winter-spring harvest.

Rake leaves – Fallen leaves can smother your lawn. Rake often, adding collected leaves to compost pile or using as mulch.

Water – Winter sun can dry out pots. Water as needed. Water less as the weather cools but don’t let new transplants, vegetables or annuals dry out. When possible, turn off automatic sprinkler systems watering established plants.

Winterize tools – Clean and sharpen all tools, including pruners, shovels and hoes. Wipe down with oil (machine oil for metal parts, linseed oil for wooden handles). Store in a dry place. Prepare and store power equipment according to manufacturers instructions.