For up to date advice and tips on gardening and encouraging wildlife in December see below:
Flower Garden.
- Containers with winter bedding should be raised on feet or bricks to ensure good drainage during wet weather.
- If you have heavy clay soil now is a good time to work in lots of organic matter such as your own compost or well rotted farmyard manure.
- Finish your autumn tidy of beds and borders if not already done. Any leaves or debris can be added to you compost bin.
- If you don’t have a compost bin now would be a good time to buy one and install it ready for next year.
- Any alpines should be cleared of debris and have a sheet of glass or plastic placed above them to protect them from the heaviest rains.
- Any tender plants not brought inside should be wrapped in a protective covering of bubblewrap, fleece etc.
- If you have room for a conifer why not buy a rooted Christmas tree. Keep it well watered whilst indoors and take outside as soon as possible. Try to get a pinus or abies instead of the usual spruce.
- Indoors, water your houseplants less often and keep them away from direct sources of heat such as radiators.

Lawns.
- At this time of year there is very little to do with the lawn except keep it free from debris.
- Make sure that the grass is walked upon as little as possible during frosty and very wet weather.
- If you find people are taking a short cut across your lawn then now is a good time to think about sinking stepping stones where they are walking. If the slabs are lower than the surrounding lawn then you can mow right over the top.
- Now is a good time to have your mower serviced.
- Before putting a mower away for the winter make sure it is drained of petrol, if it is a power mower, cleaned and oiled.
Fruit and Vegetables.
- Prune apple and pear trees that are growing in the open but do not prune cordons, fans or espaliers.
- Gooseberries and all the currants can now be pruned as well.
- Make sure that all fruit is pruned to give an open shape without any branches crossing or touching.
- Protect your brassicas from pigeons with fleece, cloches or a frame of wire netting.
- Continue to harvest brussels sprouts by taking the largest lower sprouts first as this will ensure they go on cropping.
- Bring your bay tree under cover if the weather is particularly cold as they are borderline hardy.
- Pot up some herb plants and bring into the kitchen to save going out in bad weather.
- Check that stakes, ties and protection are still in place following very windy weather.

Wildlife.
- Don’t take all the holly berries for Christmas decorations but leave some for the birds.
- Carry on leaving out bird food of all kinds and sizes. The more variety of food the more variety of birds.
- Make sure there is always plenty of water in the bird bath and keep it free of ice.
- If the ground is not frozen you could dig a wildlife pond and have it ready for the spring to attract even more fascinating creatures.
- If you are planting new trees or shrubs consider using native species to attract more wildlife.
- Watch for signs of large hedgehogs not yet hibernating if it is mild and feed with dog food or a brand of food sold specially for them.

Looking Good This Month.
Azalea - House plant with glossy green leaves and pretty flowers.
Clematis Armandii - Evergreen climber with fragrant white flowers.
Cyclamen Coum - Silver green leaves with dainty flowers from white to red.
Elaeagnus Limelight - Tough shrub with striking green and gold foliage.
Hippeastrum - Showy house plant with large blooms atop long stems.
Ilex varieties - Evergreen shiny leaves with attractive berries.
Jasmine Nudiflorum - Winter jasmine. Yellow flowers on bright green stems.
Mahonia Media - Tall shrub with fragrant yellow flowers.
Poinsettia - The Christmas indoor plant with red or cream bracts.
Viburnum Bodnantense - Sweetly scented large shrub with pink or white blooms.
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