Ask a Garden Designer: What Do I Need to Do in the Garden in December?
Pull on your hat and gloves and get outside to prune plants, protect your pond, feed the birds and enjoy the frosty natural world
Too cold to garden? Think again. The temperature may have dropped, but wrap up warm as there’s still so much to enjoy outdoors, and a great deal you can bring indoors to prolong the season. Here are 10 things to do this month.
Don’t let the pond freeze
If you are lucky enough to have a pond, it’s important to prepare it for winter. Clear all rotting leaves and hanging branches to allow oxygenating plants to photosynthesise.
If the pond freezes, the ice will prevent oxygen from getting into the water and harmful gasses will affect newts and frogs, so keep it from icing over. You can buy specially designed polystyrene foam, which will float and keep areas free of ice.
You can keep your pump running, but it’s advisable if you have fish to raise it higher so that only the colder water is recirculating, as the bottom of the pond will be slightly warmer.
Discover 10 ways to bring water into your garden
If you are lucky enough to have a pond, it’s important to prepare it for winter. Clear all rotting leaves and hanging branches to allow oxygenating plants to photosynthesise.
If the pond freezes, the ice will prevent oxygen from getting into the water and harmful gasses will affect newts and frogs, so keep it from icing over. You can buy specially designed polystyrene foam, which will float and keep areas free of ice.
You can keep your pump running, but it’s advisable if you have fish to raise it higher so that only the colder water is recirculating, as the bottom of the pond will be slightly warmer.
Discover 10 ways to bring water into your garden
Cut back now
December is the perfect time to prune Japanese Acers and maples. Don’t be too worried about doing this, but if you leave it too late, the trees will bleed when they are cut back. It’s therefore a good idea to get this task done this month if you feel they need a good trim or are trailing down too much.
December is the perfect time to prune Japanese Acers and maples. Don’t be too worried about doing this, but if you leave it too late, the trees will bleed when they are cut back. It’s therefore a good idea to get this task done this month if you feel they need a good trim or are trailing down too much.
Winter prune your wisteria
You can start to winter prune wisteria if it’s becoming a bit of a nuisance, like this Wisteria Floribunda ‘Alba’. The winter pruning is normally done in January, but even in December you can cut back summer shoots to two or three buds and tidy it up.
Prepare for winter weather by tying in any loose stems, and making sure the trellis or wires are sturdy and secure enough to prevent the weight of the plant being blown over in strong winds.
You can start to winter prune wisteria if it’s becoming a bit of a nuisance, like this Wisteria Floribunda ‘Alba’. The winter pruning is normally done in January, but even in December you can cut back summer shoots to two or three buds and tidy it up.
Prepare for winter weather by tying in any loose stems, and making sure the trellis or wires are sturdy and secure enough to prevent the weight of the plant being blown over in strong winds.
Make your own winter displays
You don’t need to go out to buy flowers or stems to transform your outdoor pots. See how inviting these planters look, placed either side of the door. They are very simply decorated with birch stems, plus added layers of different greenery including Leylandii and pine cones.
If you want an herbaceous display, plant winter pansies, cyclamen and skimmia for lovely winter colour.
You don’t need to go out to buy flowers or stems to transform your outdoor pots. See how inviting these planters look, placed either side of the door. They are very simply decorated with birch stems, plus added layers of different greenery including Leylandii and pine cones.
If you want an herbaceous display, plant winter pansies, cyclamen and skimmia for lovely winter colour.
Do a little winter prep in the shed
Now is a good time to wash all your gardening tools. Give any wooden and metal sections a good wipe down with some linseed oil to prevent the tools from rusting.
If you have bags of seed, beware of mice – they can create havoc by eating seed and chewing large holes in bags. Make sure the shed is secure, and put your seeds somewhere out of the way of little teeth in mouse-proof containers.
To prevent the harbouring of disease, now is the time to wash out clay flower pots with some washing-up liquid and warm water, letting them dry naturally before stacking them.
Take a look inside a very creative, award-winning shed
Now is a good time to wash all your gardening tools. Give any wooden and metal sections a good wipe down with some linseed oil to prevent the tools from rusting.
If you have bags of seed, beware of mice – they can create havoc by eating seed and chewing large holes in bags. Make sure the shed is secure, and put your seeds somewhere out of the way of little teeth in mouse-proof containers.
To prevent the harbouring of disease, now is the time to wash out clay flower pots with some washing-up liquid and warm water, letting them dry naturally before stacking them.
Take a look inside a very creative, award-winning shed
Carry on planting
You can continue to plant shrubs, hedging and bare-root trees as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
Make sure you check newly planted trees and shrubs regularly, as wind can loosen them and frost can lift them from the ground. With movement, gaps appear around the roots, causing the plants to dry out as they are no longer in contact with the soil. So gently firm the soil with your foot and make sure you stake your trees well to prevent further damage from the wind.
You can continue to plant shrubs, hedging and bare-root trees as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
Make sure you check newly planted trees and shrubs regularly, as wind can loosen them and frost can lift them from the ground. With movement, gaps appear around the roots, causing the plants to dry out as they are no longer in contact with the soil. So gently firm the soil with your foot and make sure you stake your trees well to prevent further damage from the wind.
Top dress your alpines and succulents
If you have any succulents or alpines in pots or in the garden, clear away all the leaves – these plants hate to be wet or have a damp layer over them for any length of time. Then spread a layer of fresh gravel or grit around the base of the plants to protect them.
If you have any succulents or alpines in pots or in the garden, clear away all the leaves – these plants hate to be wet or have a damp layer over them for any length of time. Then spread a layer of fresh gravel or grit around the base of the plants to protect them.
Feed your feathered friends
As the weather turns colder and the ground may freeze, make sure you feed the birds. Birds are allies in the garden, getting rid of pests, so make sure you give them seeds and nuts – but avoid kitchen scraps, which will only attract vermin. Also make sure you provide a shallow dish of water as birds can easily suffer from dehydration as well as hunger.
As the weather turns colder and the ground may freeze, make sure you feed the birds. Birds are allies in the garden, getting rid of pests, so make sure you give them seeds and nuts – but avoid kitchen scraps, which will only attract vermin. Also make sure you provide a shallow dish of water as birds can easily suffer from dehydration as well as hunger.
Tread lightly in the snow
A blanket of snow keeps your plants snug and warm and won’t hurt them unless it’s so heavy it breaks the branches. If you’ve planted a formal hedge or have topiary, snow only accentuates the shape and form.
However, try not to walk on grass if there has been frost or snow, as you will damage the crown of the grass and this will leave it vulnerable to pests and disease.
TELL US…
Do you still like to get out into the garden in the winter months? Please share your thoughts and gardening tips in the Comments below.
A blanket of snow keeps your plants snug and warm and won’t hurt them unless it’s so heavy it breaks the branches. If you’ve planted a formal hedge or have topiary, snow only accentuates the shape and form.
However, try not to walk on grass if there has been frost or snow, as you will damage the crown of the grass and this will leave it vulnerable to pests and disease.
TELL US…
Do you still like to get out into the garden in the winter months? Please share your thoughts and gardening tips in the Comments below.
Now is the time to make winter flower arrangements and deck the halls with seasonal greenery. Berries are in abundance at the moment on many shrubs and trees, such as crab apples and Ilex – or holly, as we more commonly know it.
To keep holly branches looking fresh throughout the festive season, cut the stems and leave them soaking in a bucket of water overnight before using them.