December Gardening Tips

With winter now in full swing, it can be easy to neglect our gardens but December can bring some bright, clear, crisp days that are great for getting outside. Colour can still be found in bright berries, subtle heathers and colourful stems from the willows and dogwood. Now is also the perfect time to clean your bird feeders and nesting boxes. Birds require high-energy and high-fat foods during cold weather so ensuring your bird feeders are maintained is crucial. If you’re looking for winter colour and interest, or want to encourage more wildlife into your garden, visit us at Nicholsons at The Park to browse our range of plants and trees as well as our stock of wildlife feeders and shelters.

Overall, December is a good time to carry out any repairs and maintenance jobs that have been piling up during the year. When you get the chance this month, get out into the garden and complete these tasks for a relaxing Christmas period.

1. Put a wind break around newly planted evergreens – Strong, cold winds can have a devastating effect on recently planted leafy shrubs. Plants lose moisture from their leaves, known as ‘transpiration’, and high winds passing over the surface of the leaves can increase the rate of water loss. This leads to ‘wind scorch’ which causes damage to the leaves. To protect your exposed shrubs, erect a shelter around the plants using any material stretched between posts, such as hessian. There are also fine mesh nets made specially for this purpose.
2. Prune deciduous trees and shrubs – Have a look at your deciduous trees and shrubs and see if any need attention to improve their health or shape. With no leaves in the way, it is easier to see what you are doing. Remove any dead or diseased wood and any crossing branches that are rubbing together, cutting whole shoots as close to the joint as possible. Try to open up the centre of the plant to allow air to circulate and take your time. Take a step back and look at the plant often and consider what effect removing the branch will have on the appearance of the plant before making the cut. Make sure you have a good pair of sharp secateurs and loppers, which can be purchased at our North Aston site.
3. Sow alpine seeds – In the wild, alpine seeds have to go through a period of cold weather to break the seeds’ dormancy. This can be initiated at home by sowing seeds in a pot and standing the pot outside to let the seeds freeze from time to time. The seeds will then germinate in the spring. The advantage of sowing the seeds in the winter is that you won’t have to place them in the fridge for six to eight weeks to break the dormancy when the weather is warmer. Sow the seeds in compost consisting of equal parts of loam, sharp grit and peat free compost. Water the compost before sowing and sow the seeds thinly over the surface and cover with horticultural grit.
4. Check stored bulbs, corms and tubers – Check for any disease, such as botrytis, because they can spread quickly. If disease is showing, remove the affected bulb or tuber. If only part of it is affected, you can cut out the diseased portion and treat it.
5. Sow some early crops – If you have space, you can sow some pots or module trays of lettuce, summer cabbages and cauliflowers, radishes, carrots, spinach, salad onions and turnips. These seeds don’t need high temperatures to germinate, around 13 degrees is adequate, so a windowsill would work just as well as a propagator. Once ready, they can be planted out under cloches or horticultural fleece in February for the very earliest crop.
6. Spray fruit trees and bushes with a winter wash – Many pest and disease problems can be reduced if fruit is given an annual plant oil winter wash, which destroys the overwintering eggs of many pests. It has to be done when the plants are completely dormant so this time of year is ideal. If the trees are growing in grass, or there are other plants under the tree, then it is worth covering them otherwise they will be harmed by the spray. Be sure to spray thoroughly, getting into all the cracks and crevices on the tree. Spray on a still day to minimise drift and wear gloves. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.
7. Move bay trees in pots – Bay trees grown in pots should be taken indoors if there is a likelihood of cold weather. Alternatively, they can be moved to the most sheltered part of the garden for protection.
8. Earth up winter brassicas – This will give them better anchorage in strong winds. Tall-growing brussel sprouts are particularly prone to being blown over. Tying plants to canes will help keep them upright. Remove any yellowing leaves on crops regularly to prevent fungal diseases.
9. Prune grapevines – Vines should be pruned when they are dormant as they ‘bleed’ sap when cut in growth. Prune back the side shoots to two or three buds, leaving you with long stumpy main stems which can also be cut back in length if they are overgrown. Don’t be afraid to be a bit ruthless with grapevines as they produce a lot of vigorous growth. The new shoots will grow and bear fruit all in one season next year.
10. Keep house plants in good light – During the short days of winter, plants need all the light they can get – especially houseplants that only get light to one side. Keep them on a bright windowsill, turning them every few days. Better still, place in a heated conservatory or greenhouse. Clean and dust off the leaves of houseplants as this can also reduce the amount of light getting through to the leaf surfaces.

Happy gardening, Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

If you have any further questions or would like some assistance with your garden, then visit our Nicholsons Garden Maintenance webpage.