Practical gardening advice for UK gardens
What to do this month

December gardening jobs

December brings the shortest days of the year, with low light, cold soils and a greater risk of frost, wind and prolonged wet weather. Conditions vary widely across the UK, so gardens in coastal and southern areas may remain relatively mild while inland, northern and upland sites can stay frozen for longer periods.

Most work now is about protection, observation and making the most of suitable weather. Planting and pruning can continue when the soil is workable, while wet or frozen ground is best left alone. Greenhouses, containers and stored produce need regular checks, and quieter days are a good opportunity to plan next season, sort seed and carry out simple propagation jobs.

UK conditions vary. Adjust timings for your local weather, soil and exposure.

Key gardening jobs

  • Check fleece, cloches, greenhouse insulation and other winter protection after strong winds and refasten anything loose.
  • Ventilate greenhouses and conservatories for a short period on mild days to reduce stale, humid air.
  • Clear leaves and debris from greenhouse, shed and conservatory gutters so winter rain can drain freely.
  • Reduce watering of houseplants and overwintering container plants, allowing compost to dry appropriately between waterings.
  • Keep bird feeders clean and provide fresh water during freezing weather, breaking ice on containers as needed.
  • Sort stored seed, discard damaged packets and carry out simple germination tests on older seed before replacing it.
  • Clean used pots, trays and labels so they are ready for spring propagation and sowing.
  • Avoid walking on frozen or saturated lawns and soil where footsteps would compact or damage the surface.

What to sow and plant

  • Plant bare root deciduous trees, shrubs and hedging during mild spells when the ground is workable.
  • Plant bare root fruit trees and bushes, firming them carefully and staking new trees where necessary.
  • Plant bare root roses in suitable ground when conditions are not frozen or waterlogged.
  • Plant garlic outdoors in mild, well drained gardens where winter wet is unlikely to cause rotting.
  • Plant shallots outdoors in mild areas with free draining soil, delaying in colder or wetter gardens.
  • Sow alpine seeds in pots or trays outdoors where winter cold can help break dormancy, protecting them from excessive rain.
  • Insert hardwood cuttings of suitable deciduous shrubs and soft fruit into a prepared trench or deep pots.
  • Lift, divide and replant hardy herbaceous perennials only during mild, dry spells in gardens where the soil remains workable.

What to prune and harvest

  • Winter prune open grown apple and pear trees while they are dormant, removing dead, damaged and badly placed growth first.
  • Prune established quinces and medlars while dormant to maintain a balanced, open framework.
  • Cut autumn fruiting raspberry canes down to ground level once cropping has finished.
  • Prune red and white currants and gooseberries to remove weak growth and maintain productive spur systems.
  • Prune acers, birches and grapevines while fully dormant and before sap begins to rise.
  • Harvest leeks and parsnips as needed, lifting roots carefully when the soil is not frozen solid.
  • Harvest Brussels sprouts and winter cabbages regularly and remove yellow or decaying leaves.
  • Cut back collapsed herbaceous stems where they are becoming slimy, while leaving useful seedheads and hollow stems where practical for wildlife.

Problems to watch

  • Watch container plants and tender growth for frost damage, especially after clear, still nights.
  • Check beds, lawns and pots for waterlogging after persistent rain and avoid working saturated soil.
  • Inspect stakes, ties, fleece and structures for wind damage after winter storms.
  • Watch plants under glass for grey mould and other fungal problems encouraged by cool, humid conditions.
  • Check stored fruit, bulbs and seed for mouse damage and remove any rotting produce promptly.
  • Protect brassicas from pigeons if winter feeding pressure increases and foliage is being stripped.
  • Check alpines and low growing perennials for rotting where wet leaves or debris are sitting over the crowns.
  • Remove heavy snow carefully from vulnerable evergreen shrubs, conifers and greenhouse roofs if its weight is bending or stressing them.
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