Gardening Jobs for December: Your Month-End Garden Guide
December can be a quiet time in the garden, with cold and wet weather keeping many gardeners indoors. However, on those brighter, crisp days, there’s plenty to keep you busy and prepare you for a flourishing garden come spring. Here’s a practical guide to the essential gardening jobs for December, helping you keep your outdoor space tidy, healthy, and ready for the new year.
Preparing Your Garden for Winter
Winter weather can be harsh on plants and garden structures. Make sure plant supports, trellises, and frost protection like fleece or mulch are secure to shield your tender plants from cold winds and frost damage.
Tend to Your Greenhouse and Cold Frames
Ensure greenhouse heaters are working efficiently to protect your overwintering plants without wasting energy. Clear leaves from gutters and wash greenhouse glass and cold frames to maximise light penetration during the darker days.
Insulate Outdoor Taps and Protect Ponds
Wrap up outdoor taps to prevent freezing and keep an eye on garden ponds. If you have fish, use a pond heater or water feature to avoid ice forming and harming aquatic life.
Tidying and Maintenance
Collect Leaves for Leaf Mould
Gather fallen leaves to create rich leaf mould, a fantastic soil improver for next season.
Repair and Clean
Use dry days to mend fences, sheds, trellises and clean garden paths. Wash and store pots and containers to keep them in good condition.
Lawn Care
If weather permits, repair any lawn damage and aerate the soil to prepare it for winter.
Container and Pot Plant Care
Raise pots off the ground with feet or bricks to avoid waterlogging during wet spells. Monitor bulbs and plants in containers for signs of drying out after frosts.
Flower Garden Care
Plant Tulips and Forced Bulbs
If the ground isn’t frozen yet, December is the last chance to plant tulip bulbs for a colourful spring display. Bring any forced bulbs indoors to enjoy winter blooms.
Prune Climbers and Shrubs
Now’s the time to prune climbing roses, tying them in to supports to encourage strong new shoots. Trim back wisteria to improve flowering and airflow, helping prevent diseases.
Harvest and Use Seed Heads
Collect the last seed heads and berries such as hydrangea for decorative winter wreaths or natural garden decorations.
Vegetable Garden Tasks
December is a good time to reset your vegetable patch for the season ahead. Plan your crop rotation early by moving roots, brassicas, legumes and leafy crops into fresh positions to keep soil productive and reduce pest pressure.
Plan Your Crop Rotation
Start thinking about next year’s vegetable layout. Rotating crops between categories like roots, brassicas, legumes, and others helps reduce pests and soil depletion.
Care for Winter Vegetables
Earth up winter brassicas like cabbages and sprouts to support them against winds. Remove yellowing leaves from Brussels sprouts to keep plants healthy.
Continue Winter Digging
If the ground isn’t frozen, keep digging beds and cover them with fleece or clear plastic to protect soil and pests.
Prepare Perennial Veg Beds
Get ready for rhubarb and asparagus by tidying perennial vegetable plots now.
Herbs and Indoor Growing
Sow Herbs indoors, Start parsley, chives, and basil indoors on a sunny windowsill to enjoy fresh herbs through winter and early spring.