December tips: caring for those poinsettias in the south
By ROBERT N. BREWER, JR.

Poinsettia Tips -

Keep poinsettias well watered and away from direct sun and heat sources, such as fireplaces or radiators. They'll droop at the drop of a hat and won't recover well.

Miscellaneous Tips

 In moderation, add the wood ash from your fireplace to your compost heap.

 In the warmest regions, continue to plant cool-season flowers and vegetables. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeding.

 In the warmest regions, now is also an okay time to transplant shrubs and small trees. Keep them well-watered.

 In those areas where frosts are just an occasional thing, keep planting wellwatered so whenever a freeze threatens, plants are more likely to survive. A"turgid" well-hydrated plant is better equipped to recover than a dehydrated plant.

 Set out a nice big basket to hold all those garden catalogs that have started arriving already so you can read them after the holidays, at your leisure.

 If you've over seeded your lawn and there are bare spots, feel free to scatter a bit more seed to fill in. Also, if the weather is warm and dry, you may need to water the over seeded lawn. If you haven't over seeded, sit back and relax!

 In warmer regions, from now through February, after a killing freeze or frost, is a good time to move a rose. Transplant it with as much of the roots as possible and keep well-watered.

 After the last mowing of the season, if there is one, take in your mower to be serviced and have the blades sharpened so it's ready to go for spring. Winterize all power equipment by allowing it to run until the gasoline runs out.

 Check out online gifts for gardeners.  Give a garden magazine subscription or a garden book.