Darrell Blackwelder

Rock salt used to melt snow and ice can damage landscape plants, especially when applied routinely or near trees and shrubs, and may pollute streams through runoff. Light applications are usually leached away by snow and rain, but heavier exposure can cause leaf burn and defoliation, sometimes appearing months later. Safer alternatives include plant-safe deicers and sand, which provides traction without harming vegetation.

Unseasonably warm winter temperatures can disrupt fruit-tree dormancy, trigger premature growth and leave plants vulnerable to sudden cold snaps. Damage may appear as browning, blackening, split twigs or delayed symptoms on plants such as azaleas. Applying six to eight inches of coarse organic mulch over root zones can help stabilize soil temperatures and retain moisture, while avoiding late-summer fertilization reduces vulnerable new growth. Gradual cooling and a return to normal winter temperatures are the least damaging conditions.

Mushrooms growing on a tree trunk can indicate internal wood decay and may signal that the tree is at risk of falling, although the timeline varies by species, health, and fungal progression. Decaying roots from removed trees can also produce lawn mushrooms, which usually disappear in dry conditions and do not require practical control. Because wild mushrooms may be poisonous, people should never eat them without expert identification.

Holiday cacti—including Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cactus—differ mainly in bloom time and leaf structure. The plants, which originated in Brazil and can live for more than a century, need humidity, bright indirect light, cool temperatures and careful watering. After blooming, reduce water and stop fertilizing; during active growth, provide regular care and filtered outdoor light after the risk of frost has passed. Limiting fertilizer when buds form and keeping the plant slightly pot-bound can encourage repeated flowering.

Houseplants often struggle indoors during winter because of reduced light, dry air, drafts and changes in watering conditions. Darrell Blackwelder recommends placing plants in bright indirect light, keeping them away from vents and doors, increasing humidity, maintaining regular hydration and allowing treated water to sit before use to reduce fluoride-related leaf burn. He advises against routine winter fertilization because salt buildup can damage roots and reduce plant vigor.

Darrell Blackwelder recommends Christmas gifts for avid and beginning gardeners, ranging from pruners, loppers and folding saws to lightweight carts, cordless mini chainsaws, small tillers, bird feeders and outdoor water timers. He also suggests garden-focused trips to destinations including Magnolia, Middleton and Brookgreen Gardens, Biltmore Estate Gardens, Reynolda Gardens and Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.

Darrell Blackwelder offers practical advice for keeping poinsettias healthy through the holiday season, including transporting them carefully, providing indirect light, maintaining cool indoor temperatures, avoiding drafts and heat sources, and watering only when the soil is dry. He warns that overwatering, standing water, and excessive dryness can quickly damage the plants. Although poinsettias are inexpensive and attractive, he says they are generally best treated as disposable seasonal plants because maintaining greenhouse-quality specimens for the following year is difficult for homeowners.

Christmas roses, or hellebores, are unusual cool-season plants that can bloom from midwinter through early spring. The article explains that they belong to the buttercup family rather than the rose family, thrive in shade or filtered sunlight, and are often deer-resistant. It also recounts the Christian legend that the flowers grew from a young girl’s tears so she could bring a gift to the baby Jesus.

Jerusalem cherry, also known as Christmas cherry, is an ornamental nightshade native to Peru and Ecuador that produces bright red-orange fruit during the fall and winter. The plant can lose its leaves and die back during extreme cold but may regrow in spring and survive for many years. Although valued for its colorful appearance, all parts of the plant—especially its fruit—are toxic.

Composting leaves and other organic materials can reduce waste, conserve moisture, improve soil structure and benefit the environment. The process works best by layering leaves with soil and nitrogen-rich fertilizer, shredding large leaves, periodically turning the pile and maintaining temperatures of 150–160 degrees. Meat, greasy foods and slowly decomposing materials such as pine needles, citrus rinds, corn cobs and pecan shells should generally be avoided.

Darrell Blackwelder recommends changing warm engine oil, running gasoline-powered mowers dry or using fuel stabilizer, checking and protecting the spark plug and cylinder, sharpening or replacing damaged blades, and cleaning and treating the mower deck to prevent rust during winter storage.