December means garden break? Far from it, because even now there are a lot of things you could and sometimes have to do outside. So if you have a garden, you don't have long to rest on your laurels. Instead, we care and prepare and yes – even sow, plant and harvest! Below we have summarized what gardening work needs to be done in December. Take proper care of useful and ornamental plants as well as the hidden inhabitants of your garden.
The edible plants in the garden
Most of the vegetable beds are empty, the trees are bare and in hibernation - at first glance there is nothing that can be done. But appearances are deceptive, because now you can diligently sow winter vegetables or harvest those that have already been sown and the fruit trees could bring you unexpected blossoms. Like that? Read on and take care of the following gardening tasks in December:
Gardening in December with vegetables and spices
This is what you can harvest:
You can harvest winter vegetables that you planted in the fall in December. These include kale, Brussels sprouts, endive, turnips, savoy cabbage, leeks, mushrooms, chicory and lamb's lettuce. Even spinach and celeriac are seasonal vegetables, although you will need a greenhouse or should harvest them before the first ground frost if they grow outdoors (you can also protect them with a cover). Choose frost-free days for harvesting.
You can sow the following vegetables as part of your gardening in December:
Carrots, radishes and black mustard can be sown, but definitely before the first ground frost. The same goes for garlic. However, you should definitely choose a very frost-hardy variety to ensure that the tubers survive the winter if you plant them so late.
If you have a raised bed, be sure to take advantage of it because it would be a shame to just leave it empty. What you may not have known is that the soil there is around 5 degrees warmer than in the classic garden bed. This makes it ideal for winter vegetables that are less sensitive to frost, such as spinach or endive.
The hardy rosemary (and Mediterranean ornamental plants)
Don’t let the term “hardy” fool you. Despite all the tolerance for low temperatures, no variety will make it through the winter. That's why this Mediterranean plant belongs in the pot and in the house from December at the latest. Oleanders and orange trees also need it warmer from now on (oranges not below 5 degrees). Other more robust varieties can stay outside for some time with frost protection.
Maintain fruit trees in the kitchen garden
Essentially there isn't really anything to do in this area of the garden unless you have orchards. In this case, it is worth thinning out the trees a little, as this promotes fruit formation in spring.
- If you still have young fruit trees in your garden, your gardening work in December should include protecting them from frost, otherwise they could suffer damage that is unlikely to occur with older trees.
- You should definitely remove and dispose of any rotting fruit on the trees to avoid disease.
- As long as the weather is good, i.e. if it is mild and no frost is expected, you can even plant local fruit varieties. This also applies to rhubarb.
- Berry bushes such as raspberries and blackberries can be propagated through root cuttings. December is ideal for this.
Don't forget about the lawn unless it's frosty
If you took proper care of it in November, the lawn probably won't be part of your December gardening routine. At most, you might have to mow it one last time, because it shouldn't be higher than 4 cm in winter so that it doesn't suffer any damage. It is important that you do this before the first snow. Remove even the last leaves to avoid rot.
Also try not to walk on the lawn if it is frozen.
What can you plant and sow?
Sow in Decemberso-called cold germsout of. As the name suggests, these require cold in order to germinate. If the weather is still mild, you can also plant one or two trees: bare-root roses, conifers and other trees that are native and robust.
What gardening work needs to be done in December – other important things
Don't forget to do the following gardening work in December to get your garden through the cold season:
Water regularly during periods without rainfall
Yes, the summer heat is over, but that doesn't mean there can't still be dry spells. In such cases, watering is quite important. However, leave it alone if the ground is already frozen. On the one hand, the water probably won't be able to penetrate deep enough into the earth to get to the roots anyway. On the other hand, this could cause additional layers of soil to freeze.
Snow protection for shrubs
It is best to tie plants with long and/or weak branches together to make them more stable. Furthermore, or if tying them together is not possible, you can try to shake off the snow as quickly and carefully as possible so that the branches do not break under the weight.
Dig up the soil in the beds
You can do this (again) in both vegetable and flower beds before the first frostdig up soil. This is particularly advantageous in very clayey soil. The chunks of earth then freeze in winter and are “blasted up”, so to speak, broken up and made finer.
Less is more for birds and insects
Avoid major rearrangement work as this could disrupt the hibernation of insects and animals. You should clean nesting boxes in autumn at the latest, but not later, as other animals could have nested there. Put bird seed out and leave water in the birdbath for drinking. The feathered friends also use the water for bathing. Yes, even in winter! Because this stimulates the production of fat, which is essential for survival.
