Gardening Jobs for December
Hello,
As we approach the shortest day of the year in December, any sunshine there is will be weak, but the days can be quite pleasant, and if you wrap up warm there are plenty of things to do.
Early in December cut a few shoots from winter flowering shrubs, such as Viburnum and Prunus. Put the shoots in water and keep them in a cool place indoors. Soon the buds will open, and the beautifully scented flowers can be added to seasonal decorations.
Leaves can make hard surfaces, such as paths, incredibly slippery, especially during wet weather. Brush the leaves off and either put them on the compost heap or in black bin bags or a chicken-wire cage so they can rot down and make leaf mould, which is great for mulching borders and beds.
Hedging, trees, fruit, and roses are most commonly available as bare-root plants at this time of year. It is worth taking advantage of buying them this way during the dormant season. Not only are they cheaper, but there is no plastic or peat involved in their production, so you are helping the environment, too.
Trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted.
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
— John Steinbeck
Reduce watering of houseplants.
It is not too late to lift and divide large clumps of rhubarb, replanting the outer sections into soil enriched with well-rotted manure. Alternatively, select a large clump to force for an early crop next spring. Sections taken from the outside of the plant are better than those from the centre.
Dig over empty borders and prepare your soil for next year’s planting.
Group potted plants together in a sheltered spot in the garden to protect them from the harshest winter weather.
December Pruning: There are a whole host of plants that can be pruned in December: Wisteria, some fruit trees and roses are just some of the plants that benefit from a winter prune.
It is important to prune your Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum) in December (if needed), as they will bleed sap if pruning is left any later. This is also true for Fig too.
Start to winter-prune wisteria, cutting back whippy summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds. Favourites such as ‘Wisteria Sinensis’ will look much tidier and flower better after a good shaping.
Prune climbing roses now, removing diseased or damaged growth and tying in any new shoots to their support. Prune older flowered side shoots back by two thirds of their length.
Importantly: Please do not be tempted into pruning bush roses now, late winter (February or March) is a suitable time for pruning bush roses
Now is the perfect time to prune fruit trees to maintain an open, balanced structure and encourage quality fruit production. The exception is plums, cherries and other stone fruits that should not be pruned until the summer to prevent silver leaf fungus. Use clean, sharp secateurs to avoid damaging your trees.
Prune grape vines.
After pruning fruit trees use the twigs for pea sticks.
Leave the faded flower heads on your hydrangeas until spring, as they provide frost protection to the swelling buds further down the stems.
If any of your rose bushes suffered from blackspot or rust during the summer, gather up and remove any fallen leaves still on the ground to reduce the chance of spreading the infection next year.
Check climbers and climbing shrubs are securely attached to their supports with ties.
Take hardwood cuttings from suitable trees and shrubs.
Protect the tips of fig tree branches. They will carry the fruits for next year and are susceptible to frost. Cover with fleece or straw if possible.
Apply glue bands or grease bands to the trunks of fruit trees to prevent wingless female winter moths climbing the trunks and laying their eggs in the branches.
Plant deciduous, climbing honeysuckle now, but make sure to avoid any frozen or waterlogged ground.
If your strawberry plants are over three years old, order some new varieties to replace them. Old strawberries can harbour diseases and tend to lose vigour and productivity.
One of the most important pieces of advice is: Avoid walking on your lawn when it is blanketed by heavy frost or snow, as this can seriously damage the grass.
Spike lawns with a garden fork to improve drainage and aeration.
Keep clearing leaves off the lawn to let the light in and prevent dead patches appearing.
Wash down all your garden tools and give them a wipe of linseed oil on the wooden and metal areas to help prevent rusting.
Look after the birds - clean feeders, stock up on wild bird food and make sure they have access to fresh water.
Choose a dry day to clear out the garden shed in preparation for the spring.
Repair fences and apply a wood preservative to prevent them from rotting if the weather is dry and not too cold. Check the advice on the can for the minimum temperature it can be applied at, usually no lower than 9 or 10 degrees C.
There’s still time to clean out water butts before they fill with fresh rainwater over winter.
Check tree ties and stakes to ensure that trees are still secure following strong autumn winds. Tighten or loosen ties, as necessary.
Hang fat balls and keep bird feeders topped up with wild bird food to attract birds, who will in turn eat pests in your garden.
Turn your compost heaps to mix the ingredients and help the contents to decompose and cover with a piece of old carpet or some plastic sheeting to prevent the compost becoming too cold and wet to rot down.
Make a pile of old logs in an undisturbed corner of the garden to provide shelter for toads and other wildlife.
As we draw to the end of another year, I would like to thank you for the messages via the Facebook pages and for the kind comments I receive while I am out working.
As always, I wish you happy gardening and a very Merry Christmas.
Rog
English Cottage Chic Gardening.
The writer, Rog Leppard, is a professional gardener and garden writer based in East Wellow, Romsey, Hampshire.