December Gardening Tips from our Head of HorticultureGardening News & Inspiration | Tips & Advice | 3 minutes of reading | By Matthew Peck Embrace the start of Winter gardening season As the year winds down, the days may still be bright, but the chill lingers in the air. It’s the perfect time to wrap up warm and tackle those garden tasks you might have been putting off. Plant those bulbs you haven’t yet got around to—they’ll bring a splash of colour to your spring containers. Another important job is to clear the last of the fallen leaves from the lawn. While you’re at it, dig over any bare patches of soil. This simple task not only preps your garden but also invites birds to feast on pests, removing them naturally. If you missed taking hardwood cuttings in November, there’s still time to do so now.December is a great time to plant or move deciduous shrubs and trees. It’s also the perfect time to plant bare-root raspberries and soft fruit bushes, giving them plenty of time to establish before spring. Consider adding scented, winter-flowering evergreen or deciduous shrubs to your garden for a touch of magic during cooler months. For a sensational reward between January and February, explore some lesser-known yet enchanting plants like, wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), Honeysuckle Winter Beauty (Lonicera x purpusii), Witch hazel (Hamamelis), sweet box (Sarcococca confusa), Skimmia ‘Kew Green’, and Daphne. These beautiful additions can transform a border into a captivating winter garden, adding seasonal interest and delightful fragrance.It is also time to embrace the festive spirit—after all, ‘tis the season to be jolly! The Christmas countdown has officially begun, and with it comes the joy of planning, decorating, and, of course, we hope at the top of your list – picking out a fresh Christmas tree from Gates Garden Centre. Remember to test your old Christmas lights before embarking on your Christmas tree adventure. This way, you’ll be prepared with everything you need to decorate your tree in all its glorious magnificence.In addition to the joy of decorating your Christmas tree, it’s also tradition to bring evergreens into the home, to help enhance your Christmas decorations. It’s a time to get creative, using moss, foliage, winter flowering bulbs like Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and candles to create table centrepieces. Another way to enhance your Christmas décor is by using decorative pots, vases, and winter containers to adorn porchways or create garden focal points that are visible from the home. These touches add festive charm to both your indoor and outdoor space.Potting Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ or Paperwhite Daffodils as well as hyacinths, and mossing them can be a simple way to introduce colour and scent to the home. This is also a way of creating a beautiful gift to give to friends or family this Christmas.We love Helleborus niger the ‘Christmas rose’ because it brightens external pots and containers. We also like hellebore ‘Verboom Beauty’ as this can be kept indoors for the festive season, and then planted outside to harden off as a hardy plant giving you many years of beauty and joy.So, get organised and enjoy what this last month of the year has to offer. Here is our list of top gardening tasks to tackle this December…Jobs for December: Tidy away the last of fallen leaves Plant deciduous shrubs, trees and fruit bushes Plant winter flowering shrubs and winter scented shrubs Feed our feathered friends regularly to help them thrive Drain and empty water features, then cover over to protect them from any severe winter weather Protect more vulnerable plants with horticultural frost fleece Make sure all your pots are lifted off the ground using pot feet. This will aid drainage and remove the risk of frost damage to plants and pots Pop a winter tap cover over your outside tap to insulate it against freezing nights Choose the perfect Christmas tree and give it pride of place in your home, making it the centrepiece of your festive décor Share this article
How to choose the perfect garden table and chairs set Garden Furniture Guides, Tips & Advice / Inspiration, Tips & Advice