December Gardening To-Do List
Winter is here and we’ve put together our December to-do list to keep your garden thriving come rain or snow!
Harvest Brussels sprouts and parsnips.
Get those delicious vegetables picked and ready for the Christmas dinner! Brussels sprouts are best harvested before their sprout leaves turn yellow. If possible, it is recommended to let your sprouts sit through a frost or two before picking, to sweeten their flavour.
Parsnips will be ready to harvest around 3 to 4 months after being sown. You can ease the parsnips out of the ground with a garden fork but be careful not to damage the roots. Similar to Brussels sprouts, parsnips also become sweeter with the colder weather. Keep them stored away somewhere nice and cold ready to be roasted, boiled or turned into a delicious soup.
Apply manure to the veggie patch.
When it comes to the vegetable patch, your manure of choice should be from plant-eating animals. You can usually ask local farmers or horse stables for some manure, just make sure to allow it plenty of time to rot before application. Applying manure that is too fresh can be harmful to soil. Taking the time to spread your manure evenly and dig it through the soil is the most effective method.
Rake up your leaves and compost all garden debris.
Although Autumn is almost over, you are most likely still finding piles of crispy leaves or debris from trees around the garden. These fallen materials make excellent ingredients for home-grown compost. If you haven’t one already, investing in a composter can save a fortune in the long run and have a positive environmental impact.
Protect tender plants with fleece.
Not all plants are hardy enough for the upcoming frosty weather, make sure to keep them all protected with a few simple steps. You can use sheets of fleece with pegs and string to cover individual plants or small beds. It may be easier to cover larger plants with a fleece jacket. For larger areas of plants, consider making or buying a frame for your fleece cover to give the best protection over winter.
Spike your lawn to aid drainage during wet months.
Over the colder months, your lawn is likely to become compacted which restricts airflow and drainage. Give it a helping hand this month by spiking the soil with an aerator, at least 3 inches deep. These little holes allow for essential nutrients, air exchanges and effective drainage of the land – keeping your lawn in its best condition ready for Spring.
Don’t neglect your houseplants.
Some of your extra fragile outdoor plants may benefit from some time indoors over the coming months. Find a space in your porch, conservatory or utility room to keep them protected over Winter.
Make sure to keep your indoor plants hydrated and well looked after in the next few months. The dry air from indoor central heating can dehydrate your hardier house plants, so make sure to check in on them regularly.
And above all, have a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones.
