Gardening tips - archive
Gardening Tips in December
December is not our most extreme weather month and one can expect a fair amount of clear frosty mornings and plenty of sunny days. With the light fading so fast - this is the month for getting up early and stuck into any chores that haven’t been finished in the garden. Below are some of the things you could be getting on with:
Preparation
Now the new seed catalogues are out for next spring, now is a best time to sit down with a cup of tea and decide what you want to grow next year. Order it as soon as possible before supplies are depleted.
Continue with your winter digging but only if the soil conditions and weather suit - not too wet or frozen. If you are on clay I would imagine that you can probably forget about it.
Now and over the next couple of months is a good time to visit your garden centre to seek out those plants which look good through the winter. When you find them, purchase and plant in your garden.
Pruning
This is the best month to do any major pruning on ornamental trees and shrubs.
Prune bush roses back by half or so to stop them being damaged in the wind.
Planting
This a good time of the year to plant bare root shrubs and trees while the ground is warm.
If you don’t have much colour in your garden get yourself off down to the garden centre and buy some plants in flower or with attractive bark or foliage.
Lawns
You may still have time to repair lawns if the weather allows.
Make sure you don’t walk on the lawn when there is a frost, all you will do is leave big brown foot prints where you have broken the brittle grass stalks.
Indoors plants/Glassshouses
Keep all your house plants in good light but not direct sunlight and water them sparingly.
Now is the time to get those glasshouse heaters fired up to protect any tender plants and cuttings that you have.
If you haven’t done so - insulate the inside of the greenhouse with (you guessed it) bubble wrap. Also insulate your cold frames and on really cold nights cover the cold frame with an extra layer.
Just because the air is colder now that should not prevent you ventilating your greenhouse and coldframes on the sunnier days of the month. This will prevent stale air and the dreaded spread of damping off.
Maintenance
Look out for the wild life in the garden keep birds stocked up with fresh water, seeds and any scraps from the house but go easy on white bread.
Clean paths of algae repair fences and sheds.
This is the best time to spray fruit trees and roses with a recommended tar oil winter wash to kill off any blackspot spores on the plants or in the soil.
If there is a heavy snow fall shake load off branches and foliage to prevent any damage due to excess weight.
When the ground is not too wet or frozen continue to lift and divide perennials.
If you have any bulbs that you are forcing now is the time to bring them into the light and warmer conditions.
Water sparingly any plants you have under cover.
Make sure you protect any plants or pots that may be vulnerable to frost damage.
Drain water from any pipes or taps that you have in the garden and insulate them.
Clean away any damaged or diseased material in and around shrubs and trees.
Mulch around all fruit trees and shrubs that have been pruned.
When tidying up the garden, leave a pile of wood, and leaves in a corner providing somewhere for any hibernating insects or little animals. Always check for animals before clearing anything in the garden.
Now is the time to repair tools and do the odd jobs in the garden that you have been putting off - fence repairs, painting, removing the algae off the patio
In the case of heavy frosts at night, place an old football in the pond to allow the fish and any other creatures to survive
Plants will still need watering this month but go easy and be careful not to overwater. The soil should only be slightly damp nearly dry.
If you are in a windy location protect any newly planted evergreen shrubs that you plant with a wind break.
To prevent the garden hose from being damaged from the frosts - take in and store, but make sure you drain off any remaining water. Also protect outdoor taps by insulating with some hessian.