What’s Good to Do in Your Garden in December
December might seem like a quiet, sleepy month for the garden, but there’s actually plenty you can do, both outdoors and indoors, to set yourself up for a thriving spring. Whether you enjoy getting outside in crisp winter air or prefer to stay cosy while planning next year’s layout, December offers the perfect blend of reflection, preparation, and gentle activity.
1. Protect Tender Plants From Frost
As temperatures drop, frost becomes the biggest threat. Use fleece, hessian, cloches, or even repurposed household items to insulate sensitive plants. Mulching with straw, leaves, or bark also adds insulation to borders and helps protect roots from freezing.
2. Prune Dormant Trees and Shrubs
Many deciduous trees and shrubs go dormant in December, making this an ideal time for pruning. Focus on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. For fruit trees, light winter pruning encourages healthier growth and better yields next year.
3. Clean and Sharpen Garden Tools
Winter is the perfect maintenance season. Cleaning, sharpening, and oiling your tools now ensures they’re ready to go when gardening picks up again. It’s also a great time to check your shed for damp or pests.
4. Sow Seeds Indoors or in a Greenhouse
Some plants—such as sweet peas, hardy herbs, and early vegetables—can be started indoors or in a heated greenhouse. It gives you a head start on the growing season, especially if you enjoy early blooms or an early harvest.
5. Plant Bare-Root Trees and Roses
Bare-root plants are available from late autumn through early spring and are often more affordable than potted ones. December is a great time to plant them, provided the ground isn’t frozen. They establish strong root systems over winter.
6. Feed the Wildlife
Gardens are ecosystems, and December is a tough month for birds and other beneficial creatures. Put out bird feeders, clean bird baths, and consider leaving some seed heads or leaf piles for overwintering insects. A wildlife-friendly garden pays dividends in spring with natural pest control.
7. Plan Next Year’s Garden
When the weather keeps you indoors, dream! Review what worked and what didn’t this year. Sketch new layouts, research plants, browse seed catalogues, and plan your crop rotations or colour schemes. December is ideal for envisioning a fresh start.
8. Compost Winter Kitchen Scraps
Even if your compost bin looks inactive, microbes are still working. Add kitchen scraps (vegetable peelings, fruit cores, coffee grounds) and balance them with brown materials like shredded paper or dry leaves. Turning the pile occasionally helps keep it healthy.
9. Decorate With Natural Garden Materials
December is full of festive creative opportunities. Use holly, evergreen branches, pine cones, seed heads, and dried flowers for wreaths, garlands, or table decorations. It’s sustainable, affordable, and brings the garden’s charm indoors.
10. Take Time to Enjoy the Season
Finally, December is a beautiful month in its own right. Notice the frost on branches, the sound of winter birds, the stillness of the soil resting. Gardening isn’t only about productivity—it’s also about connection and calm.
In Summary
Your December garden may be quieter, but it’s far from idle. With small, thoughtful tasks, you can protect your plants, prepare for spring, and enjoy the unique beauty winter brings. A little effort now creates big rewards when warmer days return.
Happy winter gardening!
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