December.
This is the month of celebrations, Christmas and looking forward to the start of a new year. In the garden there is still work to be done. The leaves on the trees used to be all gone by December but the apple trees in my garden still have half of their leaves on. This means I will not be able to finish raking leaves up till probably into the new year which dosen't seem right.
While tidying the garden, put hoses pipes away, empty any containers you have not planted up with winter plants and stack them away for next year. Water features need to be taken apart and the pumps stored till the cold weather is over in the spring.
Greenhouses need to be emptied and washed down to kill any bugs and diseases that may survive over winter in there. All these jobs can be done any time over winter when there is a nice day.
This is the month of celebrations, Christmas and looking forward to the start of a new year. In the garden there is still work to be done. The leaves on the trees used to be all gone by December but the apple trees in my garden still have half of their leaves on. This means I will not be able to finish raking leaves up till probably into the new year which dosen't seem right.
While tidying the garden, put hoses pipes away, empty any containers you have not planted up with winter plants and stack them away for next year. Water features need to be taken apart and the pumps stored till the cold weather is over in the spring.
Greenhouses need to be emptied and washed down to kill any bugs and diseases that may survive over winter in there. All these jobs can be done any time over winter when there is a nice day.
Helen's Gardening Tips for December
Christmas
trees are now in the shops and local garden
centres. If you buy them well before christmas,
keep them outside as long as possible in a bucket
of water. When you do bring them inside they hold
their needles longer if you keep them in some
water.
Holly also lasts better if given water. As the weather gets colder the birds may start eating the holly berries, so if you cut some branches and store them in a shed or garage in water you will make sure you have some to put up at Christmas.
The birds need extra food at this time, the feeders sometimes need washing to get rid of stale food which can cause diseases and don't forget to give them water to wash in and drink.
Winter flowering pansys and other plants may need dead heading when the flowers fade, this stops them putting energy into making seed heads and prolongs the other flowers.
There are many house plants for sale at Christmas, they all have different needs so check if they like a hot room or if they like it cool.
Paths need attention to keep them free of moss and algae as they can become very slippery with the wet weather, there are many solutions that help clear them or a good scrubbing helps.
This is my last e-mail for the time being so can I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.
For more jobs - RHS and BBC
Holly also lasts better if given water. As the weather gets colder the birds may start eating the holly berries, so if you cut some branches and store them in a shed or garage in water you will make sure you have some to put up at Christmas.
The birds need extra food at this time, the feeders sometimes need washing to get rid of stale food which can cause diseases and don't forget to give them water to wash in and drink.
Winter flowering pansys and other plants may need dead heading when the flowers fade, this stops them putting energy into making seed heads and prolongs the other flowers.
There are many house plants for sale at Christmas, they all have different needs so check if they like a hot room or if they like it cool.
Paths need attention to keep them free of moss and algae as they can become very slippery with the wet weather, there are many solutions that help clear them or a good scrubbing helps.
This is my last e-mail for the time being so can I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.
For more jobs - RHS and BBC
