December Gardening Tips

This is a difficult time for plants:  when water freezes in the ground, they cannot replace water lost from the leaves.  They have adapted by losing their leaves and becoming dormant, or by having waxy, waterproof leaves. The lance-like leaves of bulbs let snow slide off them.  You may have noticed this in the last week of November this year!

In December

• Prune birches, Japanese maples and other deciduous trees, now they are dormant, removing crossing branches and reducing overall size.
• Prune grapevines, apples, pears, currants and gooseberries. The aim is to achieve an open-centred tree or bush. Renovation pruning of neglected trees is a three-year job (search apples and pears: renovating old trees at rhs.org.uk)
• Erect a rain shelter over wall-trained peaches and nectarines to protect against leaf curl until May.
• Take hard wood cuttings from trees like mulberry, tamarix or euonymus: take the current season’s growth, cut into 10-20cm sections with about 4 buds. Cut below a node at the base and make a slanting cut away from a bud at the top. Insert into gritty compost and leave in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.
• ‘Force’ rhubarb by covering with straw and a dark bucket or special forcer pot.
• Forget the tinsel! Coloured stems from acers, cornus, willows and bamboos go well with holly, ivy and fir for your seasonal decorations.
• Indoor plants need less water than you might think – only water them when the top of the soil is quite dry.  Azaleas, cyclamens and forced bulbs last longer in cool conditions, while poinsettias like warm, draught-free positions.

Have a very happy Christmas.