With all the extreme weather conditions you could be forgiven for thinking December is a month for leaving your garden alone. But nature doesn’t stop when the snow falls so now is the time to ensure some important jobs are done.
Winter bird care
If you want plenty of birds in your garden, remember to provide for them during the winter months.
Remember to feed, water and provide shelter.
Important pointers for your lawn
- Remove the last of the fallen leaves.
- Try to keep off the lawn when it is wet or frozen.
- Now is an excellent time to get your mower serviced.
Flowering plants
- Thinking of designing a new garden or border of colour for next year? Now is the time to pop in to Singletons Nurseries if you need any advice.
- Order seeds, flower bulbs and plants for the coming year.
- Taller-growing bush roses can be pruned down by about half, which will prevent the wind from causing them to become loose through swaying, and in turn damaging the roots.
- The branches of standard roses should also be pruned.
Fruit and vegetables
- Prune apple trees. Pruning of fruit trees, such as gooseberries, red, white and black currants should be done from November to March.
- Pick Brussels sprouts.
- Harvest winter vegetables and check on those you’ve stored.
- Currants – extra plants can be raised by hard-wood cuttings being taken from existing healthy bushes. The cuttings should be 25-30cm (10-12″) in length, then buried to about half their depth.
- Vacant areas in the vegetable plot can be dug ready for sowing and planting in spring.