Essential December Gardening Activities

Apr 2
20:43

2024

Graeme Toyne

Graeme Toyne

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As the year draws to a close, the garden enters a period of dormancy, offering gardeners a chance to relax after months of tending to their green spaces. Yet, even in the quiet of December, there are essential tasks to keep your garden thriving through winter and prepared for spring. Here are ten crucial gardening activities for December, complete with tips and tricks to ensure your garden remains a sanctuary even in the coldest months.

Protect Your Delicate Flora

1. Shielding Sensitive Plants: December is the final call to safeguard tender and half-hardy plants from the winter chill. Ideally,Essential December Gardening Activities Articles move them indoors to a frost-free area with sufficient light, such as a greenhouse or conservatory. For those that must remain outside, apply a generous layer of mulch or use horticultural fleece for insulation. The Royal Horticultural Society provides detailed advice on winter plant protection.

Maintain and Upgrade Garden Infrastructure

2. Revitalize Your Garden's Framework: With plant care less demanding, now is an opportune moment to refurbish hard landscaping elements. Clean paths, especially in shaded areas prone to moss, and inspect sheds and fences for necessary repairs or a fresh coat of preservative to prevent rot in the damp climate. Woodland Trust offers guidance on selecting eco-friendly wood treatments.

Winterize Garden Utilities

3. Safeguard Outdoor Plumbing: Prevent freezing by isolating and draining outdoor taps and pipes. If that's not feasible, insulate them with old fabrics to fend off the frost.

Support Local Wildlife

4. Sustain the Birds: With natural food scarce and water sources freezing, birds rely on your help. Offer a variety of bird foods and ensure ground feeders are not forgotten. Keep water features from icing over, breaking any ice that forms. The RSPB has extensive resources on helping garden birds in winter.

Care for Sheltered Plants

5. Tend to Greenhouse Residents: Water plants under cover judiciously, as their dormant state means less water is needed and overwatering can cause rot.

Prepare the Soil

6. Advance Winter Soil Preparation: Continue to dig and aerate soil in empty beds, incorporating organic matter. Refrain from working with overly wet or heavy clay soils to avoid compaction.

Prune Dormant Trees and Shrubs

7. Prune Dormant Fruit Trees: Post-harvest is the time to prune fruit trees and woody ornamentals. This encourages healthy growth and fruit production for the coming year.

Plan for Early Harvests

8. Sow Seeds for Early Vegetables: Some vegetables can be sown now for early harvests. Check seed packets for appropriate sowing times.

Stock Up on Seeds

9. Purchase Seeds for the Upcoming Season: Seed suppliers release new stock around late November. Browse catalogs or online stores to select seeds for planting in the new year.

Enjoy a Well-Deserved Rest

10. Embrace a Gardening Pause: After a year of gardening labor, relish a break. Sit back with a warm beverage and let the garden rest, too, as you anticipate the next season's joys.

Interesting Stats and Facts

  • According to the National Gardening Association, bird feeding is the second most popular gardening activity in the United States, with over 65 million Americans participating.
  • A survey by the Gardeners' World Magazine found that 80% of gardeners feel that gardening helps them with their mental health, highlighting the importance of taking a break and enjoying the peacefulness of the garden.
  • The practice of mulching is not only protective but also environmentally beneficial. A study by the University of Illinois Extension shows that mulching can reduce water evaporation from the soil by up to 35%.

By following these December gardening tips, you can ensure your garden remains a haven for wildlife and a place of beauty, ready to burst into life come spring.

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