December's Great Outdoors...

  Mid Winter Garden  

Although December can be a seemingly bleak time for our gardens, it's the perfect opportunity to get some odd jobs done, maintain our plants and make the most of those bright and sparkly early mornings before the day draws to an early end. Here are a few ideas...

1. Preparation...

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Now is the perfect time to sit down with a cup of tea and browse some seed catalogues! Deciding what you want to grow in advance means you can prepare any specific pots or compost, clear a new area in the garden and make sure the soil is in good condition. It is at this point of the year where all the odd jobs that have been neglected up until now can be done, like cleaning algae off the patio or fixing that broken fence panel!

2. Wind and Frost...

Prune away! Make sure to cut back any shrubs and get rid of dead or diseased twigs and branches. You should try and trim your rose bushes back by half to protect them from potential wind damage and try not to walk on the lawn when it's particularly frosty, as you may end up with big brown footprints where the frozen brittle stalks have broken. 

3. Wrap up...

 If you have a greenhouse, then insulate it to protect any cuttings or tender plants you have been looking after. Bubble wrap is perfect for this. If it gets really cold, then add a second layer to ensure the little shoots stay cosy. However, if that beautiful winter sun does decide to make an appearance, open the windows and ventilate the greenhouse to prevent stale air and damp. 

4. Colour Splash...

If the lack of colour in your garden is bothering you, then pop to your local garden centre and grab something that's in bloom or has a pretty bark or foliage. Jasminum Mudiflorum, or Winter Jasmine, is not scented, but has a wealth of beautiful yellow flowers and will grow in most soils. Hamamelis Mollis, or Chinese Witch Hazel, is another little gem that crops up in the cold, smelling lovely with red and yellow hues.

5. Little Critters...

Remember to look after wildlife this winter! Keep the bird baths stocked up with water and make sure they have plenty of food (easy on the bread though). If you have a big pile of leaves or chopped wood in a corner of the garden, then leave it to create the perfect habitat for any insects or animals passing by to hibernate in. If you're going to do any major clearing, just double check you're not disturbing anything!