2 weeks Ago By Sophie Harris
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s a good time to crack on with the last few jobs for the year. Whilst many people think December is a quiet month for the garden , there are actually lots of jobs to do. Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director of Hedges Direct , said: “This is undoubtedly a quieter moment in the gardener’s year but it’s not a time to hang up the tools completely.
“There are certain jobs I recommend to get done in your garden this month.” Completing certain jobs such as sowing flower seeds as well as performing general maintenance tasks will help to ensure the garden thrives next spring. The expert said: “While the depths of winter may not feel like a natural time to be sowing seeds, there are some plants which respond well to being started off at this time of year.
“For some varieties, a protected or heated environment is the best option to get a head start on the growing year ahead. “However, some seeds should be started off outdoors to give them the cold treatment they require to trigger them into growth.” Seeds which can be sown this month include sweet peas, aquilegia, Laurentia as well as hardy cyclamen.
It’s also a great month to plant tulips as it’s important to plant them during dormancy. This will vary depending on the flowering time and if you didn’t get around to planting them in November, they can still be planted in December. The expert said: “In fact, planting tulip bulbs after the first frost, usually in November but in some places in December, should help to reduce the risk of diseases like tulip fire.
” Other tasks to complete include keeping off the lawn in frosty weather, storing hoses and sprinklers to stop them freezing as well as preparing the soil for next year. The gardening expert continued: “We’re currently in prime bare root season. Plant bare-root hedging as long as the ground isn’t waterlogged, frozen or covered in snow.
“Yew, beech and hornbeam are some of our most popular options. We recommend planting bare roots as soon as possible after they’ve been delivered to prevent the roots from drying out. “December is an excellent time to plant root ball hedging.
Root ball plants should be planted immediately after delivery, but if weather conditions aren’t suitable, store the plants in a sheltered, dry and cool place while keeping the roots moist. Water well once planted.”.
