December Garden Checklist: Preparing Your Garden for Winter

What to do in the December Garden

As the year winds down, December brings a unique set of tasks for gardeners. While your garden might seem dormant, there’s still plenty to do to ensure it remains healthy through the winter and is ready for spring. Here’s your December garden checklist:

1. Protect Your Plants
Cold snaps can be harsh on your plants. Ensure that sensitive plants are covered with fleece or moved indoors if potted. Mulching around the base of plants can also provide extra insulation against freezing temperatures.

2. Prune Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
With many trees and shrubs entering dormancy, December is an ideal time for pruning. Removing dead or diseased branches helps encourage healthy growth in the spring.

3. Plant Bare-Root Trees and Shrubs
This month is perfect for planting bare-root trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm enough for roots to establish before the full force of winter.

4. Tend to Your Compost
Turn your compost pile to keep it active. If it’s too wet, cover it to protect from excessive rain. Add fallen leaves to the pile – they make excellent compost material.

5. Clean and Store Garden Tools
Take the time to clean, sharpen, and oil your garden tools. Proper maintenance will prolong their life and ensure they’re ready for use in the spring.

6. Check Structures
Inspect fences, gates, and trellises for damage and make repairs as needed. Winter storms can cause further damage to already weakened structures.

7. Keep Bird Feeders Full
Help your feathered friends by keeping bird feeders full. Birds are beneficial for your garden as they control pests and help with pollination.’

8. Plan for Next Year
Use this quieter time to plan for the next year. Order seed catalogs and start planning what you want to plant and where.

9. Harvest Winter Vegetables
If you have winter crops like kale, Brussels sprouts, or parsnips, keep harvesting them as needed.

10. Monitor Watering
For those in warmer climates, ensure that your garden is receiving adequate water, especially new plantings.

11. Take Care of Indoor Plants
Reduce watering and stop fertilizing indoor plants as they too enter a period of dormancy.

12. Reflect on the Past Year
Finally, take some time to reflect on your garden’s progress over the past year and make notes on what worked well and what didn’t.

December may be a slower month in the garden, but it’s a crucial time for preparation and reflection. With these tasks, you’ll protect your garden through the winter and lay the groundwork for a successful spring. Happy gardening! ?❄️?