Extension

Lawn and Turf

• Remove leaves from cool-season grasses or mow with a mulching mower.
  (HLA-6420 Lawn Management in Oklahoma)
• Continue mowing cool-season lawns on a regular basis.
  (HLA-6420 Lawn Management in Oklahoma)
• Continue to control broadleaf weeds in well-established warm- or cool-season lawns with a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer. (HLA-6421 Controlling Weeds in Home Lawns)
  

Trees and Shrubs

• Select a freshly cut Christmas tree. Make a new cut prior to placing in tree stand. Add water daily.
• Live Christmas trees are a wise investment, as they become permanent additions to the landscape after the holidays.
• Light prunings of evergreens can be used for holiday decorations. Be careful with sap that can mar surfaces.

Flowers

• Apply winter mulch to protect rose bush bud unions and other perennials. Wait until after several early freezes or you will give insects a good place to winter.
• Poinsettias must have at least six hours of bright, indirect light daily. Keep plants away from drafts. (HLA-6413 Poinsettia Care)
• Watch for and control pests on indoor houseplants. (HLA-6411 Houseplant Care)
• Make sure indoor plants are receiving enough light or set up an indoor fluorescent plant light.
  (HLA-6411 Houseplant Care)

Fruits and Nuts

• Cover strawberry plants with a mulch about 3-4 inches thick if plants are prone to winter injury.
  (HLA-6214 Growing Strawberries in the Home Garden)
  
• Wait to prune fruit trees until late February or March. (HLA-6228 Annual Pruning of Fruit Trees)

General

• Keep all plants watered during dry conditions even though some may be dormant. Irrigate all plantings at least 24 hours before hard-freezing weather if soil is dry.
  (HLA-6404 Winter Protection for Landscape Plants)
• Order gardening supplies for next season.
• Now is a great time to design and make structural improvements in your garden and landscape.
  (HLA-6425 Annual Flowers for Specific Uses in Oklahoma, HLA-6440 Homeowner Garden Design Series Planning the Landscape, HLA-6441 Homeowner Garden Design Series Elements and Principles of Design)
• Send for mail-order catalogs if you are not already on their mailing lists.
• Christmas gift ideas for the gardener might include tools, garden books, magazine subscriptions or membership to The Botanic Garden at OSU.
• Clean and fill bird feeders.
• Till garden plots without a cover crop to further expose garden pests to harsh winter conditions.
• Visit your county extension office to obtain gardening fact sheets for the new gardening season.
• Join a horticulture, plant or urban forestry society and support community “greening” or “beautification” projects.
• Review your garden records so you can correct past mistakes. Purchase a new gardening journal or calendar to keep the New Year’s gardening records.