Gardening jobs for December

December is a quiet month in the garden with limited daylight hours and cold and frosty weather. However, there are still some jobs that can keep you busy…

• Wisteria, fruit trees, roses, and Japanese maples all benefit from a winter prune.

• Insulate outdoor taps with frost protectors (sold in store).

• Dig over empty borders and prepare the soil ready for next year’s planting.

• Lift and store Dahlia tubors once their leaves have been blackened by frost.

• Leave the faded flowers on hydrangeas until spring to help protect the buds below from frost.

• If you’re planning on planting beans next year, dig a trench where they are to be planted and fill it with compostable kitchen waste (not cooked food) and re-cover with soil. This will rot down and improve the growing conditions.

• Cover heavy clay soil in the veg garden with polythene. This will keep it drier and allow winter digging.

• Lift and divide established rhubarb plants to renew it’s vigour.

• Keep clearing any fallen leaves off the lawn to allow light in. Avoid walking on the lawn if it has snow or a heavy frost on it, as this will damage the grass.

• Enjoy some garden planning by the fireplace for next year.