Keep your garden in good condition by working through our checklist of jobs to do in December. You can still sow flower seeds this month and, to keep things ticking along in the propagator, have a look at some hardy vegetable seeds to sow in December as well.
Things to do this month
- Rake up accumulated fallen leaves in borders that could be harbouring slugs and other pests
- Hang bird feeders near roses to attract hungry birds that will also pick off any overwintering pests
- Cut stems of berried winter shrubs, seasonal flowers and evergreen leaves for festive decorations
- Tidy up raspberry and blackberry beds – weed and mulch with compost, then tie new stems to support wires
- Monitor greenhouse temperatures with a max-min thermometer to ensure heaters are working efficiently
- Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) bulbs for spectacular flowers in about eight weeks
- Put out fresh water for birds every day during frosty weather
- Bring all watering equipment indoors, including hoses and sprinklers, so they don’t freeze and split
- Scoop fallen leaves and debris from ponds, leave on the side so pondlife can escape, then add to the compost bin