The days may be shortening and the festive season is just around the corner, but there’s still time to enjoy some gardening. On dry days, grab your jacket and boots, step outside, plant a few things, and set your garden up beautifully for the year ahead. Here are our top 15 gardening tips for December.
15 Gardening Tips for December
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As long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, December is the perfect time for planting bare-root trees and shrubs or relocating existing plants while they’re dormant.
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There's still time to pop tulips and daffodils into pots or borders for a brilliant spring display.
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Remove fallen leaves from flowerbeds to prevent slugs and snails sheltering underneath. Any leaves that are affected by fungal diseases (like black spot) should definitely go into your council green waste bin, not the compost heap.
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With less outdoor work to do, take the opportunity to clean tools, sharpen secateurs and shears, and get the lawnmower serviced.
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We recommend mulching your borders. Apply a generous 5cm amount of compost, soil conditioner or well-rotted manure to beds. The worms will pull it into the soil over winter.
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Protect your pots by wrapping them in bubble wrap and raising them onto pot feet. This will help to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.
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Prune climbing roses, removing dead wood, tie in new shoots, and shorten flowered side shoots by two-thirds.
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While Japanes maples rarely need hard pruning, any essential cuts should be made now while the tree is dormant and won’t bleed sap.
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Prune grapevines, cutting back side branches to one or two strong buds from the main stem.
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Care for garden birds by keeping feeders topped up and ensure bird baths are free from ice so birds can drink and bathe through the cold months.
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Remove and clear leaves from lawns so that sunlight can reach the grass. Store them in leaf piles or black bags. After a year or so, they’ll break down and become nutrient-rich leaf mould.
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Avoid walking on the lawn when the ground is snowy or muddy. By staying off the grass will prevent any long-term damage.
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Lift dahlia tubers. After the frost has blackened the foliage, cut back the stems and let the tubers dry for a couple of days. Then store them in trays of compost somewhere cool and dry.
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Check houseplants by moving them away from radiators to stop them from drying out. It's also best to water them less often during the winter months.
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Harvest winter vegetables as it’s the perfect time to pick leeks, Brussels sprouts and winter cabbage for hearty soups and stews.
Whatever you’re looking for this December. Whether it's plants, seeds, Christmas trees or fairy lights, you’ll find it all at Carpenters Nursery in St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
