This is a busy time of year for many of us, and it can be a challenge to remember everything that needs to be done.

• Water plants. Check houseplants, and flowering plants, daily to see if they need water. When the top surface of the soil is dry to the touch give the plant a thorough watering, using room temperature water. Discard any excess water after 15-20 minutes so that the plant is not sitting in water for any length of time.
• Over the Christmas season (and year round) indoor gift planters are given. These are made up of several different plants in one container. Individual plants are left in their pots and placed in the container, and then moss is used to cover the top of the containers. Planters are made this way, as it is easy to remove and replace finished flowering plants, and different plants have different moisture requirements. Keep this in mind when watering gift planters as each plant will need to be watered individually.
• Fresh floral and green arrangements should be checked and watered daily.
• Fresh cut Christmas trees need to be given watered daily. If they go dry, the tree will form a scab on the bottom cut, and will be unable to take up water. For it to take up water, it would need to be taken out of the stand and have the bottom re-cut again.
• Outdoor winter drop pots should be watered when temperatures go above freezing.
• Don’t forget our feathered friends. Hang bird feeders and fill with them seed. Choose a selection of different feeders and feed to attract different types of birds. Black oiled sunflower seeds are a favourite! Birds also enjoy suet, which come in several flavours.
• Have a bag of 46-0-0 fertilizer on hand to melt ice on walkways. 46-0-0 fertilizer is an alternative to salt based ice-melting products that can harm the lawn and plants. The 46% nitrogen from the fertilizer will not only melt the ice, but in spring when walkways are cleaned, the fertilizer that is swept onto the lawn will green up the lawn more quickly. Do not use high amounts of 46-0-0 as too much fertilizer over the winter can also be harmful in the spring. If a large amount of fertilizer was used over the winter months, leach out the soil with water in the spring to prevent any damage.

Enjoy the season with friends with family. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

-Jos Van Hage 

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George

• Highway 16 West at Kimball Road

• Highway 97 north at Northwood Pulpmill Road ( closed for the season)