What to do in December
In December, winter sets in across the UK and gardening slows down considerably. However, it’s still a good time to prepare for the upcoming spring and maintain the garden, even though the weather is colder:
Things to do in December:
- Feed the birds in cold weather.
- Prevent ponds, water features and bird baths freezing over.
- Continue winter digging incorporating organic material into the soil.
- Repair lawns, sheds and fences when the weather conditions allow.
- Prune woody ornamental plants, fruit trees and bushes, ornamental vines and grape vines.
- Shake snow off trees, shrubs and hedges.
- Reduce watering of plants that are overwintering under cover to avoid the risk of rotting.
- Winter-flowering houseplants will need attention but avoid overwatering dormant pot plants.
- Lift and heel in celery so that you have plenty of winter supplied.
- Earth up brassica stems to help support them to reduce wind rock.
Last Chance:
- Protect plants and pots that are vulnerable to frost damage.
- Insulate garden taps and exposed pipes to stop them from freezing.
- Prune tall bush roses to guard against wind rock.
- Bring in Christmas bulbs for flowering.
Getting Ahead:
- Sow pelargonium seeds under cover.
- Sow some early crops under cover for the first plants to put out in the new year.
The Weather
- Cold, with frequent frosts and the chance of snow. Average day time temperatures ranging from 4°C to 7°C and night time temperatures between -3°C and 0°. Frost and snow are common and daytime temperatures rarely rise much above freezing during cold spells.
- December is typically quite wet, with high rainfall, often falling as rain or sleet.
- Very short days, with limited sunshine. Cloudy skies and grey weather dominate.
General Tasks
Vegetables & Herbs
Fruit
The Flower Garden
The Greenhouse
Containers
Trees & Shrubs
Hedges
The Lawn
Wildlife and the Pond
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