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The days are short, and the festive season is almost here, but there’s still time to do a little gardening! On dry days, seize the chance to put on your jacket and boots, get outdoors, do a bit of planting and get things in good shape for next year. Here are our top 15 gardening tips for December.
Top 15 gardening tips for December
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Provided the soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen, December is an excellent month to plant bare-root shrubs and trees or to move existing plants while they are dormant.
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There’s still time to plant tulips and daffodils in pots and borders for a fantastic display in spring!
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Clear leaves from flowerbeds to stop slugs and snails hiding under them. If any of the leaves are affected with fungal diseases like black spots, don’t put them on a leaf pile or compost heap, but dispose of them in your council green waste bin instead.
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While there’s less to do in the garden, now’s the chance to do some tool maintenance. Clean your garden tools, sharpen secateurs and shears and get the lawnmower serviced.
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Mulch beds with garden compost, soil conditioner or well-rotted farmyard manure. Spread a thick layer (at least 5cm) over the beds and leave the worms to work it into the soil over winter.
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Wrap pots in bubble wrap and place them on pot feet to stop them from getting waterlogged over winter.
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Prune climbing roses, remove any dead wood, tie in new shoots and cut back flowered side shoots by two-thirds.
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Although Japanese maples don’t need regular pruning, if you need to remove any branches, do it now while the trees are dormant and won’t ‘bleed’ when cut.
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Prune grape vines, cutting back side branches to one or two strong buds from the main stem.
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Look after your garden birds in winter by keeping bird feeders topped up and bird baths ice-free so that the birds have somewhere to eat, drink and wash.
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Clear fallen leaves off lawns so the sunlight can reach the grass. Collect the leaves into leaf piles or store them in black bags somewhere out of sight. In a year or so, they’ll break down into leaf mould, which is a fantastic soil conditioner.
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Avoid walking on the lawn in the snow or if it’s very muddy, as you might damage the grass.
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Lift dahlia bulbs after the first frosts have blackened the leaves. Cut off the stems and leave the tubers to dry for a couple of days, then store them somewhere cool and dry over winter in trays filled with compost.
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Check your houseplants to make sure they are not near a radiator, as this will dry them out. Water houseplants less frequently in winter.
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It’s time to harvest those winter veg for delicious warming soups and stews! Leeks, brussels sprouts, and winter cabbage should all be ready to harvest now.