Winter
is an excellent time to get tidied up and plan ahead. Here is our gardening checklist full of tips for December!
Plan
ahead
Avoid
being disheartened by any difficulties you encountered this year. Use your time now to plan what you will do differently in the coming year.
Sort
out your tools
Make
the most of this quiet period by sharpening secateurs, fixing loose handles and washing gardening clothes. Sharper tools are much more beneficial for your plants. If you have a greenhouse, now is the time to give it a good clean and tidy.
Protect
wildlife
Provide
nuts, seeds and water for birds. Make sure the water is regularly topped up and doesn’t freeze over.
Bring
your Christmas tree indoors
If
you have a live tree outside in a pot, bring it in only a few days before Christmas. Ensure you leave it 24 hours before decorating. Conifers enjoy cold temperatures rather than being in a centrally-heated house. When it’s indoors, keep it away from radiators
if possible and give it plenty of water.
Other
general garden maintenance jobs include:
• Bring
• all watering equipment indoors (hoses and sprinklers) so they don't freeze and split
• Clear
• out your shed
• Ensure
• tree ties and stakes are able to bare winter storms
• Order
• summer-flowering bulbs
• Order
• any equipment you have that needs replacing