A festive wreath assumes its annual pride of place on a welcoming door. Inside, tinsel is hung and tables are laid with plans of bringing family and loved ones together. Mixed emotions of shyness and opportunity play out under the mistletoe. Whilst children, young and old, exchange and unwrap precious gifts with giddy excitement. The fragrance of cinnamon fills our senses with sweet emotions and childhood memories. Gathering together, we raise our glasses, filled with what was and hopes of what might be and lose ourselves to the magic of December.
Yet for gardeners, it can be a little hard to embrace the festive cheer when our gardens are looking worse for wear, and the weather does little to entice us outside. But take solace my green-fingered friends, it’s all part of Mother Nature’s plan. Just because things may not be flourishing above ground, underground is telling a very different story. Roots are re-generating; soil is releasing its valuable nutrients for plants to consume, and everything is gearing towards a new growing season. So, there’s no need to have the face of someone who’s just been put on the naughty list. Instead, celebrate the season with gardening jobs that guarantee to warm both the body and soul.
If you’re considering buying a Christmas tree this month, it’s worth thinking about a pine tree that can be planted after the festive period. The potted Christmas tree has been steadily increasing in demand in recent years, as consumers become more environmentally conscious.
Ten years from now, that small potted tree you bought could be happily maturing in your garden, giving you and your family, not to mention the garden wildlife, great pleasure. However, if you do opt for a pre-cut tree, don’t be too quick to throw it away in the New Year. Its needles can be chopped up and used as mulch for acidic plants, such as blueberries. The branches can also be used as support canes for growing peas.
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For growing veg that will eventually make it onto the festive menu, check crops regularly for pests and diseases. Remove any decayed or fallen foliage, and keep the growing area weed-free. When lifting carrots, parsnips or leeks, ensure you prise them gently from the cold ground with a hand fork. The later you can leave digging up the veg, the fresher they’ll be on the big day.
Why not create your very own Christmas wreath with garden-grown holly and ivy? Include evergreen cuttings, branches of crab apples and pyracantha berries. Or use the cuttings for festive mantle and table displays. A sprig of mistletoe hanging in a doorway is a great way to make friends throughout the holiday season.
Try adding festive colour to your home with plants, such as cyclamen, amaryllis and hyacinths. These can be bought already potted up, so all you have to do is place them somewhere draught-free and out of direct sunlight. Just remember to water them occasionally. In the new year, as the foliage retreats, these plants can be planted out into the garden, where they’ll continue to flower every year.
With the garden looking bare, you can now see the ‘bones’ of your growing spaces. If you’re looking to add structures, trees or create new growing areas, this visual blueprint is a great guide. It’ll also reveal anything that needs repairing or replacing, such as rotten fence panels. With a dormant garden, it’s easier to move around on beds without the fear of treading on your prize blooms.
Rhubarb that’s been growing in the same spot for several years may need reinvigorating. Therefore, carefully dig up the crown, split it top to bottom with a spade, ensuring each piece has at least a couple of growing buds on it. Re-plant sections where you want to see them flourish, water and mulch around the divided sections. By leaving a newly planted crown untouched for at least a year, you’ll allow it to become established, enabling it to produce quality stalks season upon season.
As December rumbles on, deciduous trees are dormant and ready for pruning. With leaves fallen, the tree’s structure is clearly visible, making the task easier. Think about the three Ds: dead, damaged and diseased. Prune any branches that fall under these categories, but remember overall structure, and try not to prune too hard.
As winter is a time of dormancy, many sap-based shrubs and trees, such as vines and acers, can also be pruned. If you have wisteria, give it a winter prune by cutting summer side shoots back to no more than three buds. Ensure all young trees and fruit bushes are tied to their stakes, as windrock can cause damage.
If you have peach, apricot or nectarine trees, they may need fleecing to protect them from peach leaf curl fungus. Do not prune stone fruit trees, such as cherry, plum or peach, as this will leave them exposed to silver leaf disease. This should be done in the summer, once the fruit has been harvested.
It might be cold outside, but a heated greenhouse can give your seedlings a head start. Consider sowing geraniums, begonias and snapdragons. Fill a seed tray with peat-free compost, tamp down and sow seeds sparingly across the surface. Cover seeds thinly with compost and place the whole tray into a larger tray filled with water. Allowing the compost to soak up the water from below prevents seed disturbance. Once the seed tray is soaked, place it somewhere warm and bright to germinate.
Indoor herbs such as mint, chives and dill can also be sown this month. Try growing them in a container or pot on a sunny kitchen windowsill where they can be easily harvested for immediate use.
Keep an eye on weather reports and overnight temperatures. If there is a snowfall, remove fallen snow from the greenhouse roof. Not only will this prevent the weight from breaking the glass, but growing plants within need all the warmth and light they can get. Installing a greenhouse heater will also help to protect plants, but the extra warmth can invite unwanted pests and diseases, so check growing area regularly. If it’s a pleasant day, open a vent or door to allow fresh air to circulate and reduce the onset of disease. However, remember to close windows and doors once the temperature starts to drop.
Outside taps should be protected with frost jackets. Better still, if taps are unused, turn off their water supply to stop pipes from bursting. Finally, avoid walking on frozen lawns, as you can potentially damage the grass.
So, as you wait to hear sleigh bells and the arrival of the gentleman in the red suit, take a moment to reflect on this year’s gardening journey. What worked, what didn’t and what have you learnt as a gardener. And if the weather does keep you indoors, why not settle down in front of a home fire, with a cheeky mince pie and a glass of something sparkly to read the latest gardening magazines and flick through the colourful seed catalogues.
There is a world of inspiration out there, so compile your what-to-grow lists, draw up your plans and let’s make 2025 a growing season to remember.
