Gardening Tips for December
The final leaves fall from the trees, and we fully embrace winter’s chill this month. Your outdoor routine might have scaled down, but we can still take pleasure in wrapping up warm and spending crisp, bright mornings in your garden. 
What can I do in my garden in December? 
On those days where the sun is shining and the air is fresh, you can spend time in your outdoor space doing any last-minute tidying or spring preparation. Make sure you’ve also taken precautions to protect your plants against any harsher winter weather!
Clean up those remaining leaves from lawns, ponds, and patios. Wet or frozen leaves can become a slip hazard.
Spike your lawn with a garden fork or aerator to help increase drainage, which in turn will help reduce moss and wet patches.
In periods of severe cold and wind, wrap tender evergreen plants in frost protection fleece and raise pots off the ground. If there’s heavy snow forecast, check larger evergreen shrubs and conifers, and brush off any excess snow to prevent branches breaking under the weight. Don’t worry about low garden plants, they’re happy under a small blanket of snow.
Cut back and tidy faded perennials with secateurs and add any loose foliage to the compost heap. Leave grasses and seed heads for their structural interest, which look particularly beautiful on frosty mornings and create shelter for overwintering insects.
Flowers to plant this month
One of our favourite things about December is the opportunity to focus more on our houseplants and indoor florals. However, there are plenty of plants that can be planted now to enjoy in the new year, and it’s very important to protect any greenery still growing in your outdoor garden.
Bring bowls of forced bulbs such as hyacinths and paperwhites indoors to encourage them to bloom in time for Christmas.
Plant indoor cyclamen, three to a bowl, trough, or basket, for a delightfully festive centrepiece. It’s also time to bring home the classic Christmas poinsettia, just be sure to keep them well away from the chill of cold draughts!
Plant beech, hawthorn, and privet hedges outdoors to give them time to establish for spring. You can also do the same with ornamental trees.
Winter fruit and vegetables – what can I grow?
With allotments and growing patches dormant this month, the majority of growing this month will be done indoors and in greenhouses.
Raspberry canes and other berry fruits can be planted outdoors between now and springtime for a tasty crop come summer.
Prune fruit trees to encourage healthy fruit production - the aim is to remove dead and diseased growth and remove overcrowded branches whilst they’re more visible this month without their leaves.
Sow herb seeds like basil, dill, chives, and mint to keep on your windowsill (but be sure to move them if it gets too draughty or cold by the window!).
Plant winter hardy salad leaves under cover or in a warm greenhouse.
How to care for wildlife in December
One of the best parts of winter is watching the wildlife interact with your garden. Birds and insects need our help the most this time of year with a consistent supply of food and water.
Put out more food for birds during winter – position feeders as close to the house as possible and use a variety of seeds, nuts, and suet treats to attract a wide range of birds. Take care that our winged-friends are kept safe from outdoor cats and use squirrel-proof feeders where possible.
Leave some areas of your garden untouched for animals to find shelter in and keep ornamental berries on trees for wildlife to pick at when they’re hungry.
Provide a shallow, low-level container of water for garden visitors like hedgehogs and foxes and keep bird baths topped up. Watch out for any water freezing, too.
Look for any sleeping animals in your compost, leaf piles, or bonfires before moving or lighting.
We would love to see what you get up to in the garden this December, take a picture and tag us on socials with @dobbiesgardencentre for your chance to be featured on our social media channels.