Gardening Jobs for December
As we approach the end of the year and into the coldest months, you will need to work hard to keep warm in the garden. Although there isn’t much work to be done, there are still some small jobs and lots of planning you can do if you want to keep your thumbs green.
Top gardening jobs this December
Depending on the size of your garden there could still be plenty of winter gardening jobs to do. Prepare for Spring and keep your garden friends happy with some of these simple tasks.
Bring in the winter harvest!
After their hard work, growing through the harsh wet winds and just in time for Christmas, you can start to harvest Brussels sprouts, kales, leeks, cabbages, parsnips, and cauliflowers.
Wrap them up warm
Pile straw around the base of tender shrubs and climbers to protect them from falling temperatures.
Look after the winter wildlife
Keep those bird feeders topped up with seeds and nuts. Look at hanging fall balls or coconut suet halves.
Providing a fresh dish of water every day at ground level will be welcomed by birds and small mammals.
Indoor gardening jobs
There might not be much left to do outside but now is the time to give some attention to your indoor plants.
Moving houseplants to a sunny windowsill over winter will allow them to get as much light and warmth as possible during the short winter days. Now is also the time to reduce watering to around once a fortnight, for succulents once every 2-3 weeks and for cacti stop watering altogether. The exception is winter-flowering plants such as poinsettias which need watering when the soil feels dry.
Look for pests such as aphids. A warm house provides a potential breeding ground for many plant pests throughout winter. Check under leaves as well as the rest of the plant and find suitable solutions online.
Some house plants are prone to collecting dust on their leaves which can make it harder for them to absorb light making it harder for them to produce food. Be sure to regularly wipe them down with a damp cloth or for larger plants you can hose them down outside on in the shower.
For indoor plant pruning try the ARS 300L Pointed Pruners – great for precise pruning.
General garden maintenance
Now is a good time to make sure your garden, green house and shed are organised ready for Spring. Start by clearing out your shed, organise your equipment, clean your tools and throw away anything that’s cluttering your space.
Make sure you leave a space in your shed to store all watering equipment including hoses and sprinklers to prevent splitting.
If you’re buying a real Christmas tree, stand it in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot outdoors until it’s time to bring indoors.
Garden planning for 2024
Winter is a great time to start planning your garden for the start of the new year. Hopefully by now you’ve got a good idea as to what flowers, plants and/or crops you want to plant. Look at best times for cultivating, planting and where is best location to plant.
Making a list of monthly jobs will help you keep on track for your gardening schedule throughout the year and if you’re looking for more help, check out our Winter Gardening Guide, our monthly gardening checklists or RHS / Gardener’s World websites for more information and tips.
