December jobs for the garden

Let the festivities begin!

The weather is getting chillier which can mean only one thing – winter is coming!

December is the perfect month for getting the garden shipshape in time for festive celebrations. Fireside gardening is a must with all those new seed catalogues to peruse, and it is time to take stock of what did and didn’t work as we start planning for the new season.

The shortest day will soon be here, and daylight hours are limited, but there is still enough time to start getting the garden ready for next year. Pruning, sowing, cleaning and general maintenance takes over from flower and crop care as we hurtle towards the end of the year.

If the weather is too cold or wet, take a break, the garden can wait!

Winter crops

• Harvest vegetables such as parsnips, brussel sprouts and leeks for a homegrown Christmas lunch.
• Continue to sow herbs and lettuce leaves in pots either in the greenhouse or windowsills. Fragrant herbs such as rosemary and basil are easy to grow if you are new to growing herbs.
• Protect brassicas with net to keep hungry birds at bay.
• Stake brussel stems to prevent breaking in the wind.
• Winter prune large apple and pear trees whilst dormant.
• Protect fruit trees against overwintering bugs that can cause damage to summer crops. Take a look at the ‘Protect trees in winter for summer success’ blog for tips on using Tree Bands and Winter Tree Wash.
• Plant new fruit canes, raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants are always popular. Weed and then mulch to help protect over winter.
• Clear vegetable beds in preparation for conditioning the soil.
• In the greenhouse start off broad beans, onions and garlic.
• Check stored fruit and vegetables for rot and remove any that have signs of disease.

In the flower garden

• With the risk of frost and snow on the horizon, protect less hardy plants and climbers by placing straw around the base.
• Protect tree ferns, banana trees etc by wrapping them in fleece.
• Move plants in pots to more sheltered positions to protect against the wind.
• Hard prune overgrown shrubs. Cut hedges now they are dormant.
• Prune climbing roses, acers etc.
• Check dahlia tubers and remove those that are starting to show signs of rot and disease. Take a look at the ‘How to overwinter dahlias’ blog for some handy tips.
• Plant bulbs in large pots for winter colour. Skimmia, buxus and pansies are great for bringing vibrancy to autumnal hues. The ‘Planting pots for autumn and winter’ blog will provide some inspiration.
• It’s bare root season and to give bare root plants the best start, add Vitax Q4 Rootmore Mycorrhizal Fungi to the base of the area and ensure the roots are firmly placed on top.
• In the greenhouse, pinch out side shoots on sweet peas. Sweet peas are fragrant additions to the garden in spring and planting them now will help encourage the development of strong root systems. For more information on how to grow the best sweet peas, click here.
• Deadhead houseplants.
• Plant amaryllis bulbs.
• Repot orchids or any houseplants that have outgrown their pots over the summer.
• Whilst houseplants need less feeding during the winter months, give them a boost every few weeks to keep them healthy. There are a range of feeds available, click here to see a range of plant-specific and general plant feeds.

It’s time to check the garden!

• As the frosts become fiercer, protect outdoor taps with fleece or padding to prevent damage.
• Keep raking those leaves and composting!
• Check stakes and posts and replace before the winter winds.
• Check water baths and bird feeders and replenish.
• Check bulbs in the greenhouse for any rot and disease and remove.
• Keep off those lawns if possible.
• Check for pests everywhere from trees to plants, to the greenhouse and shed. Check crop stores as mice and other animals will be looking for tasty food!

For many, December will be full of festive fun and gardening may take a backseat for a few weeks. However, for all those winter gardeners out there, embrace the crisp mornings and shorter days to clean and get ready for the new season, and when it’s time to come indoors, there are a multitude of seed catalogues to flick through.

Wishing you all a fabulous, festive break.