Johnson's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2008
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/tips.html

J A N U A R Y  2 0 0 8

"TREECYCLE"
    After you've enjoyed your cut Christmas tree for the holidays, take
it to one of the free disposal sites provided by Sedgwick County.
(Remove all decorations first.) The trees will be chipped into mulch
that will be free for the taking. Check the sites periodically to see
when the chips are available. Bring your own shovel and container.
    Christmas trees can be dropped off at these Wichita locations
through January 23:

    - Boston Park, 6655 E. Zimmerly
    - Buffalo Park, 10209 Hardtner
    - Cowtown, 1865 Museum Blvd.
    - Edgemoor Park, 5815 E. 9th
    - Extension Office, 7001 W. 21st St. N.
    - Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E. 29th St. N.
    - Osage Park, 2121 W. 31st St. S.
    - South Linwood Park, Hydraulic & Mt. Vernon

    Other cities in Sedgwick County also offer drop-off sites.

    There are other ways to use your old Christmas tree--instead of
putting it out with the trash. You can cut off the branches and use them
to mulch tender plants like perennials and bulbs. Or put the entire tree
in the corner of your yard or near a bird feeder to provide winter
shelter for birds.

WINTER BIRD FEEDING
    Shelter, as provided by shrubs or your old Christmas tree, is a
great start for attracting birds. Water and food are the other two
requirements. It's a thrill to see a flock of cedar waxwings descend on
your bird bath. Other birds also drink, bathe and generally delight in
thawed water during the freezing months. It's easy to provide thawed
water by using a bird bath heater. Good heaters are thermostatically
controlled to shut off when the water temperature is above freezing or
the bath is dry.
    Now for the feeder and seed. The best initial feeder is some type of
platform stocked with black oil sunflower seed or mixed seed containing
black oil sunflower seed. A second option is a tube finch feeder with
nyjer (thistle) seed. Mixing in some sunflower chips will attract
woodpeckers, wrens and chickadees as well as finches. The sunflower
chips can be an attraction to squirrels as well, so if they are a
problem stick to straight nyjer. From these basic types you can expand
into specialty feeders as your interest and feather population dictate.
    If you want to attract some of the more interesting birds, try our
"Gardener's Choice" made exclusively for Johnson's. This premium mix
contains mostly peanut and sunflower chips. All birds love this mix and
will eat your feeders clean with no waste and no unwanted seedlings
sprouting under your feeders. Other good choices to feed birds include:

    Black Oil Sunflower Seed -- the one best seed to attract cardinals.

    Gourmet Delight -- premium seed blend including sunflower seeds,
        millet, peanut chips and dried papaya for broad appeal.

    Sunflower Chips -- the meat of the sunflower seed with all the
        nutrition, but none of the waste or sprouting. All birds,
        including insect-eaters like wrens, woodpeckers and nuthatches,
        like this food.

    Safflower Seed -- Cardinals will eat this seed, but  squirrels,
        starlings and grackles will not.

    In addition to using safflower seed to reduce squirrel raids on your
bird feeders, give squirrels a feeder of their own with peanuts or
Critter Crunch Squirrel Food. That way they won't bother your bird
feeders as much and you might find yourself quite entertained by their
antics.

LANDSCAPE PLANTS
    Unless we have ample natural moisture, soak trees and shrubs once a
month during the winter months.
    Tree wrap should be used to protect the bark of trees susceptible to
sunscald and subsequent splitting. Maples and newly planted trees are
most vulnerable.

HOLIDAY HOUSEPLANTS
    What should you do when the holidays are over and your poinsettia
and amaryllis are still alive and well? Keep them for holiday blooms
next year!
    After your amaryllis has bloomed, keep it growing to build up the
bulb for next year's flowers. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer like
ferti-lome  Geranium, Hanging Basket & Pansy Food or Daniels Plant Food.
Set the plant outside in the spring and let it grow until the leaves
start to yellow in late summer. Let it go dormant and give it a six week
rest. Then repot, start watering and watch for new blooms!
    For poinsettias, continue the same care as before--bright light,
moist soil and no drafts.
    - Set it outside in the spring.
    - In the summer, fertilize your poinsettia well and cut it back to
        help make it bushy.
    - For Christmas blooms next year, give it 14-hour nights starting
        October 1st.