Gardeners Checklist: Here Is What to Do on the Week of Dec. 3

By Ron Kujawski

* Follow the odor emanating from your basement. It may be that some fruits and vegetables stored there are getting over-ripe, a condition better known as “rotting." Cull these before the fragrance permeates your house and neighborhood.

* Be careful when using rock salt (sodium chloride) as a de-icer on walks and driveways this winter. Not only can it contaminate groundwater, a concern for those of us with wells, but it can also be very damaging to plants. Use the product sparingly or use an alternative such as a product containing CMA (calcium magnesium acetate). Of course, there is always that product that our grandparents relied on — sand.

* Give potted herbs plenty of space. These plants need enough room so that light can reach the lower leaves.

* Cut some sprigs of rosemary and lavender and work these into holiday wreaths, swags, and other decorations to add a touch of fragrance.

* Attach a packet of seeds to your holiday gifts, especially if the gifts are intended for a gardener.

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The recent snowstorm resulted in damage to trees throughout much of the northeast. It seemed the sound of chainsaws working overtime was as common as Christmas carols on the radio. While our trees were spared from damage, the storm did remind me of how dangerous tree work can be. I’ve had friends killed or seriously injured while felling trees or removing damaged branches. Some were experienced professional arborists. Tree work should never be taken lightly.

Ron Kujawski began gardening at an early age on his family's onion farm in upstate New York. Although now retired, he spent most of his career teaching at the UMass Extension Service. He serves on Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Advisory Committee. His book, Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook, is available here.