Winter 2025-26

DECEMBER Plant Care Checklist

• Clean up the garden to avoid over-wintering diseases.
• Cover open compost bins with a tarp when the rains begin.
• Protect frost-sensitive garden plants such as succulents. If frost is predicted, cover or move them under a sheltering overhang. Use stakes around the plants to suspend the covering material so it doesn’t touch the foliage. Remove frost blankets during the day. Consider applying an anti-transpirant compound to plant foliage to seal in moisture.
• Wait until the weather warms up in March to prune off any frost damaged plant parts.
• Tour your landscape during a heavy rainfall. See where water is coming off your house and where there are eroding torrents. Think about ways to slow, spread, and sink the rain.
• Do not disturb soil – no digging, tilling, or walking on wet soil to avoid compacting.  Shovel less, nurture more.
• Clean and sharpen tools - remove all soil and wash them with a 10% bleach solution to avoid spreading diseases. After drying them completely, apply a light layer of vegetable oil to prevent rusting.
• Reduce watering houseplants to avoid root rot over the winter when they are not actively growing.
• Ensure houseplants are not exposed to heat sources. Increase humidity by placing plants on pebble filled saucers.
• Feed the birds. Keep suet and seed feeders full.

Planting and propagating

• Take cuttings of succulents and create small container gardens for holiday gifts.
• Finish planting spring blooming bulbs.
• Continue planting native plants and bulbs and scattering annual wildflower seeds.
• Shop for the winter blooming Camellia sasanqua while it is in bloom.

Cutting and pruning

• Lightly prune any evergreen shrubs to keep pathways clear. Trees can be thinned to prevent storm/wind damage.
• Prune woody shrubs, hardy deciduous trees, dormant shade trees, and winter flowering shrubs just after bloom. Wait to prune spring flowering trees and shrubs until after they bloom.
• Bring trimmed bare branches indoors for a unique decorative element.

Feed and fertilize

• Lightly fertilize potted winter-growing succulents such as Aeonium, Aloe, and Kalanchoe if needed.

Pests and weeds

• Inspect citrus trees for snails and slugs, brown rot, and root rot.
• Inspect pine trees for bark beetles Learn more about bark beetles, pitch moths, western gall rust, and wood borers.

Edibles

• Plant bulb onions and rhubarb divisions.
• Watch for frost; cover sensitive crops as needed.
• Learn more about crops to plant in December and other activities in the edible garden.

Fire-smart Landscaping

• Plan for the upcoming fire season. Start by understanding the defensible space zones, especially the five feet surrounding the perimeter of your home. Remove combustible materials or vegetation in that area, especially near windows.
• Learn more about fire-smart defensible space zones.

JANUARY Plant Care Checklist

• Observe water runoff during a heavy rain and correct any drainage issues.
• Protect tender garden plants by covering them on frosty nights. Use stakes to keep material from touching foliage and remove the coverings when temperatures rise the next day. Consider applying an anti-transpirant compound to plant foliage to seal in moisture.
• Water plants (except succulents) before an anticipated frost.
• Avoid walking on or working in garden beds after heavy rains to avoid compacting the soil.
• Pick off old flowers from camellias and azaleas and clean up dropped flowers to reduce petal blight, a fungal disease. Do not add them to your compost pile.
• Clean, sharpen, and repair garden tools.
• Organize your tool shed.
• Revitalize houseplants by washing the leaves, inspecting for insects, and repotting them if necessary.
• Reduce watering of houseplants to avoid root rot, as most are not actively growing.  
• Water outdoor plants if rainfall is scarce.
• Water outdoor plants that are not exposed to rain (under eaves, on covered decks, etc.).
• Feed the birds in your garden.

Planting and propagating

• Purchase and plant bare root trees, roses, vines and shrubs. Bare root plants are less costly and establish faster than plants in containers. Avoid planting in soggy soil.
• Divide and pot spring flowering perennials.

Cutting and pruning

• Prune and cut back perennials and ornamental grasses.
• Prune woody shrubs, deciduous trees, dormant trees, summer blooming vines, and winter flowering shrubs just after bloom. Wait to prune spring flowering trees and shrubs until after they bloom. Learn more about pruning.
• Prune roses. Remove and dispose all leaves and debris to prevent overwintering pests and disease. Do not add to home compost.
• After pruning, be sure to clean tools.

Pests and weeds

• Inspect pine trees for bark beetles Learn more about bark beetles, pitch moths, western gall rust, and wood borers.
• Inspect citrus trees for snails and slugs, brown rot, and root rot.
• Spray fruit trees and roses with horticultural oil to control pests.

Edibles

• Buy seeds.
• Prune fruit trees and grapes.
• Plant bare root fruit trees and shrubs, artichokes, asparagus, blackberries, grapes, onion starts, raspberries, rhubarb, and strawberries.
• Learn more about crops to plant in January and other activities in the edible garden.

Fire-smart Landscaping

• Remove any limbs 10 feet from the chimney or roof and maintain separation between trees or groups of trees.
• Learn more about Fire-smart Landscaping.

FEBRUARY Plant Care Checklist

• Inspect irrigation system for leaks and non-functioning emitters and sprayers. Run the system for a few minutes, paying close attention to which emitters are not working. Straighten lines and use a pin or needle to free any trapped grit in emitters. Make any other needed repairs or changes.
• Clean up old and dropped flowers from camellias and azaleas to reduce petal blight, a fungal disease. Do not add them to your compost pile.
• Avoid working in or walking on wet soil.
• Be alert to possible freezing temperatures and protect sensitive plants such as citrus and succulents. Learn more about frost.
• Apply organic fertilizer to citrus if needed.
• Repot houseplants and succulents in anticipation of spring growth.

Planting and propagating

• Finish planting bare root trees, shrubs, and roses before they break dormancy.
• Divide perennials such as daylily and yarrow.

Cutting and pruning

• Finish pruning dormant plants. Wait to prune back frost-damaged plants until warmer weather when you see whether they have recovered.
• Prune Japanese maples while they are winter dormant.
• Prune woody shrubs and evergreen trees (spruce, firs, junipers, yews, redwoods, and cypress), hardy deciduous trees, dormant shade trees, summer blooming vines, and winter flowering shrubs just after bloom. Wait to prune summer blooming trees and shrubs until after they bloom.
• Cut back woody shrubs to stimulate new growth. To rejuvenate leggy shrubs, cut to the ground one-third of the oldest stems each year.
• Prune ornamental grasses.
• Finish pruning roses and dispose of canes, leaves, and debris.
• After pruning, be sure to clean tools.

Pests and weeds

• Check plants for aphids as the weather warms. Remove infestations with a hard spray of water or insecticidal soap.
• Stay on top of weeds. Hand pull them or cut off at the soil line.
• Monitor tender new growth for snails and slugs. Hand pick or apply an iron phosphate bait which is safe to use around children, pets, and wildlife.

Edibles

• Use dormant oil spray on fruit trees if needed.
• Cut down cover crops if ready. Chop into pieces and dig into beds or put into compost pile.
• Plant artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, leeks, onion starts, and rhubarb.
• Learn more about crops to plant in February and other activities in the edible garden.

Are you looking out your window at a dull gray day -- and garden? Wondering when the roses will start blooming again? Welcome the winter showstoppers of our Mediterranean climate! We are so fortunate to live in an area with a myriad of options for colorful foliage, berries, blooms, fragrance, and habitat for wintering birds, bees, and other pollinators. Great news for those of us looking for a colorful, welcoming garden, and great news for our over-wintering birds, bees, and other pollinators. A true win win! 

Quick start: add annuals

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to brighten your garden with fabulous blooms, start with colorful annuals like pansies and violets. They are readily available in an array of colors, easy to plant, and require very little care other than regular water if rain is unavailable. Botanically speaking, pansies and violets are both from the Viola genus, but pansies have bigger, showier flowers – always with four petals pointing up and one down – and violets have smaller, more prolific blooms – with two petals up and three down. 

Color every year: perennials and evergreens you can count on

These winter bloomers bring cheery color during the shortest days of the year.

Sasanqua camellias prefer full sun or partial shade and can grow quickly 6 to 14 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide. They can be pruned to control size. Leaves are glossy and evergreen. Grown in the ground or containers, the plants make a bright colorful winter statement and are excellent cut flowers. Somewhat deer resistant, they can easily be grown into a hedgerow.

Cyclamen are familiar, hard-working winter bloomers. The Royal Horticultural Society refers to cyclamen as “the flower that wakes up just as most other plants go to sleep for the winter.” They are available in a variety of colors – white, pink, fuchsia, red -- and their leaves -- some variegated, heart-shaped, or ruffled - are charming. As summer heads our way, their corms go dormant, only to come to life when the weather cools and rain returns. 

Hellebores, also known as Christmas or Lenten rose (Helleborus niger), have large evergreen leaves with flowers in a variety of colors. Plant in a shady spot in your garden for years of deer-resistant, low-water winter blooms. Beware – all parts of the plant may be toxic if ingested. 

Hardenbergia is an evergreen vine that bursts into a proliferation of purple flowers in winter. It quickly twines its way 6 to 12 feet up and through fences and arbors. 

Daphne sports soft pink blooms and a delectable fragrance that wafts through the garden. Daphne prefers part sun, regular water, and fertile, well-draining soil. Gardeners love daphne -- but deer do not. 

Coral bells (Correa) are Australian shrubs with delightful, deer-proof blooms. This easy-care plant grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. It performs in light shade and prefers well-draining soil. 

Many California natives offer colorful winter flowers and berries. They are easy to grow, drought tolerant, and provide food and shelter for birds, bees, and other pollinators. Native plants have developed a symbiotic relationship with insects and birds that overwinter. Plants provide nectar, pollen, and seeds for nourishment. Insects, in return, provide help with pollination. These California natives shine in winter:

Ceanothus, also known as California lilac, is available as low groundcovers, mid-size shrubs, or low or multi-branched trees. Winter and early spring flowers range from bright blue, purple, pink or white. They are best planted in lean, native soil. Once established, avoid overwatering. 

Toyon, also known as Christmas holly, is a magnet for many of our local bird species. Its bright red berries are a delight during the holidays. 

Manzanitas are abundant in our open space preserves and neighborhoods. The first rains of the season trigger blooms. They are a very important source of pollen for birds and mammals. 

Pop-ups: bulbs provide cheery color 

Many of the flowers that spring up from bulbs in winter are the quintessential harbingers of spring. The best part? You plant them once and they come back year after year – so easy!

Daffodils are springtime darlings, but many emerge in late winter. As a bonus, deer don’t touch them and they make superb cut flowers. 

Crocus is one of the first bulbs to emerge in winter. Short and tough, it bursts up during the darkest days of the year. Blooming in shades of purple, white, yellow, pale pink, and anywhere in between, crocus are cheerful additions to any garden. 

Winter gardens can be beautiful – and colorful!

A winter garden filled with a variety of blooming plants and colorful seeds and berries will brighten even the gloomiest days. 

Learn more about plants that bloom in winter. 

Viburnum tinus is a broadleaf evergreen woody shrub that grows 6-12 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide. It is deer, drought, and salt tolerant. Showy, fragrant flowers bloom from November to spring, much to the delight of butterflies, birds, and bees. The flowers appear in clusters, the deep pink buds and white flowers often appearing at the same time. 

The fruit is also a food source for wildlife – the seed pods are metallic blue through summer, morphing to black as they mature. The 2 to 3-inch leaves are lustrous, dark green, oval, leathery, and slightly rolled at the edges. New stems emerge an alluring wine red. This easy-care plant is native to the Mediterranean areas of Europe and North Africa.

How to grow Viburnum tinus 

This lovely shrub is suitable for all areas in Marin County in full sun or part shade, although it prefers some shade where summers are hot and long. It also appreciates rich soil and regular moisture – but it tolerates drought once fully established. Viburnum tinus can be pruned to whatever shape is desired. Watch for aphids, thrips, spider mites, and scale. (Learn more about managing invertebrate pests.) Mildew can be also a problem if grown near the ocean. 

Versatility: a major selling point

Viburnum tinus has dense foliage right to the ground, which makes it a great choice for a hedge, screen, small tree, stand-out flowering shrub, and even a clipped topiary shape. It is used in a variety of landscape themes including butterfly, cottage, pollinator, and winter gardens. 

What’s in a name?

The common name for Viburnum tinus is laurustinus or laurustine. The word “laurustinus” is Latin for “laurel-like tinus,” referencing its evergreen foliage that resembles a laurel tree.

Many Viburnum to choose from

Viburnum tinus is just one member of the viburnum (Viburnaceae) family. There are more than 150 other species of viburnum, both evergreen and deciduous. Here are a few cultivars to consider:

‘Viburnum tinus ‘Robustum’ – This cultivar has coarser and rougher leaves, less pink in the flowers, and more resistance to mildew. It makes an excellent small, narrow tree.

‘Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’ – This plant has slightly smaller and darker green foliage and is fairly compact, topping out at about 6 feet. It is a good choice for hedges.

Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit – This cultivar has slimmer foliage, grows to about 6 feet, and tends to have a compact habit. It’s a good choice for low hedges. 

Here’s more on these and other viburnums to consider.