Newsletter

Welcome to the ProGrass information center! My name is Steve Varga and each month I will be providing you with updated seasonal information on landscape care. Please check back regularly for current information that will help you have a better landscape and get the most out of your ProGrass services. Also be sure to check my care tip sheets and if you have any questions please click on my question and answer icon.

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Past Newsletters

December 2005

With the holiday season here, many of us have festive plants such as poinsettia (Hypoestes phyllostachya) and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera species) in our homes to add some color and cheer. Here are a few tips to keep them healthy and looking their best. Poinsettias
Keep out of drafts and place in a spot where it will receive filtered light. If possible, poinsettias prefer cool nighttime temperatures. Water no more often than every 2 weeks. Poinsettias like to dry out between waterings. When you do water, they prefer overhead watering so the leaves are wetted down. This makes the color last longer. Do not fertilize while they are blooming.

• Direct sunlight is fine for Christmas cactus
• Let dry out between watering. Every 2 weeks should be sufficient.
• Do not fertilize while the plant is blooming. However, a light fertilization in January is helpful.
• If possible, Christmas cactus prefer cool night temperatures.

Christmas trees glowing with lights are a beautiful sight this month. Remember to keep your tree well watered. You'll probably need to add water every day for the first few days as the tree can soak up a remarkable amount after it's first brought into the house. To help keep it fresh you may either add a prepackaged "freshner" mix or make your own by adding one-teaspoon sugar and one aspirin to one quart warm water.

Other things to consider in December:

Pruning

If you haven't yet taken care of pruning, it's not too late. Properly pruned plants not only look better; they are healthier and live longer. But remember-there is a difference between pruning and cutting.

Pruning requires careful consideration of which limbs and twigs to remove. Each limb and twig has a purpose in the plant's system and only a specific number should be cut.

The pruning process requires skillful training and proper equipment. Pruning is an art as well as a plant science. You can learn more about pruning by studying books or checking the ProGrass web page for current and future pruning technical bulletins. ProGrass also offers free evaluations for our professional pruning service.

Mulch Installation

Now that you've done all the hard work of getting the leaves and debris cleaned up from your landscape beds, reward yourself by having fresh bark mulch installed. Do it now so that in the spring, your perennials and bulbs push up neatly through the mulch. This is much easier than trying to install mulch around these plants. If you'd like, ProGrass can install bark mulch for you and even finish up any landscape cleanup that may still need to be done.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season,
      Steve

If you have any other questions, check my technical bulletins or contact ProGrass for more information at 1.800.PROGRASS or customerservice@prograss.com.