December gardening

December is a relatively quiet month in the garden, but there are more things to take care of than you might think. With limited daylight hours as we approach the shortest day of the year, this month’s crisp wintery weather can be strikingly beautiful and bitterly cold in equal measure. While we wait for Santa’s arrival, see the following checklist of jobs to keep us gardeners busy.

• Look after the birds – Stock up on wild bird food and make sure they have access to fresh water. Wash and disinfect bird feeders. Clean out bird baths as needed.
• Leave the faded flower heads on your hydrangeas until spring, as they provide frost protection to the swelling buds further down the stems.
• If any of your rose bushes suffered from blackspot or rust during the summer, gather up and remove any fallen leaves still on the ground to reduce the chance of spreading the infection next year.
• Take hardwood cuttings from suitable trees and shrubs.
• Remove yellowing leaves from your winter flowering cabbages and kale— they’re no use to the plant and may harbor pests and diseases.
• Now is a good time to prune fruit trees to maintain an open, balanced structure and encourage quality fruit production. Use clean, sharp cutting tools to avoid damaging your trees.
• Prune grape vines after a killing frost.
• If your strawberry plants are over three years old, order some new varieties to replace them. Old strawberries can harbor diseases and tend to lose vigor and productivity.
• Avoid walking on your lawn when it’s blanketed by heavy frost, as this may damage the grass.
• Keep clearing leaves off the lawn to let the light in and prevent dead patches appearing.
• Service your lawnmower by changing the oil, sharpening the blades or installing new ones.
• Wash down all of your garden tools and give them a wipe of linseed oil on the wooden and metal areas to help prevent rusting.
• Choose a dry day to clear out the garden shed in preparation for the spring.
• Repair fences and apply a wood preservative to prevent them from rotting.
• Check tree ties and stakes on newly planted trees to ensure that the trees are still secure following strong autumn winds. Tighten or loosen ties as necessary.
• Build or buy a compost bin. Continue to collect fallen leaves and add to the bin. Turn your compost heaps to mix the ingredients and help the contents to decompose.
• Carefully plan your vegetable garden’s crop rotation for next year to avoid a buildup of insect pests and diseases.  
• Take an inventory of tools and equipment that you need for next year. Add them to your Christmas list!
• Winterize watering systems. Bring hoses and outdoor faucets inside to prevent freezing.
• Clean pots and trays. Scrub empty pots and seed trays to get rid of overwintering pests and diseases.
• Plant trees and shrubs. December is a good time to plant bare-root roses, trees, and hardy shrubs.
• Apply mulch to protect perennial plants and the soil from winter weather.
• Harvest winter crops. Harvest any remaining winter vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale, especially before a hard freeze. 
• Plan for spring. Review last year’s garden notes to make plans for the next growing season.
• Order seeds and supplies. Take this quiet time to check your seed inventory and order seeds for the upcoming year. Order summer-flowering bulbs, compost, or manure to add in the spring.
• Take leaf cuttings of your favorite house plants including African violets and begonias.
• Divide Boston ferns and re-pot.

Perform some of these tasks during this month. You’ll be glad you did!

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified Plant Professional, gardening writer, and former Perry High School horticulture instructor. He can be reached at (478)954-1507 or timlewis1@windstream.net.