Your Monthly Gardening Guide ~ 5 Jobs for December
If you’re new to the monthly gardening guide, a very warm welcome.
Jenny and her husband Tom tend to just under 3 acres of breath-taking garden, including a stunning 1-acre walled garden.
If you missed last month’s blog, you can read it by clicking here
Over to you Jenny…
There’s a certain magic about this month, especially on a crisp frosty morning when the air is still, and the garden is twinkly and white.
Last week saw most of the leaves, as well as branches and even trees themselves all swept up in storm Arwen, leaving lots of clearing up to do here and for most of the country!
I hope there wasn’t too much damage in your garden and neighbourhood.
The shorter days have meant more time spent indoors, enabling me to plan for next year, and time to do some inside clearing and tidying in my potting shed, a job that gradually builds up all summer!
I’ve never been one to put up the Christmas decorations on the first day of December, mostly because I’m never organized, and the fact that our tree will have dried to a crisp by Christmas Day!
However, that doesn’t stop me from getting into the festive spirit by visiting places that go all out on decorating.
One of my all-time favourites to visit is Chatsworth House in the Peak District
I used to find that garden jobs at this time of year waited until after the festive period was all done and dusted. Now, there’s usually a handful of jobs that can be done now to save me time later on, and here they are..
~ 1. Clean, sharpen and repair garden tool ~
This is the ideal time to book your mower in for a service and have a check through all your garden tools, making sure they are in good working order and clean.
I also think this is a good moment to start a Christmas wish list of any new items you’d like to add to your collection of tools.
One of my highly used and favourite is an inexpensive and extremely useful hand rake.
Have a look here to see some and a few other great garden tools ~ Click here
If you’re after some new secateurs or shears and have a more expensive taste in tools (like Tom!) then Niwaki might be more for you.
~ 2. Cut back leaves to Hellebores ~
(Christmas rose/Lenton rose) This is one of my favourite winter flowers here, there are so many different flowers to choose from that over the years I’ve gradually increased my collection of them.
They are such a valuable plant to have and if you don’t have one in your garden then I urge you to. At this time of year, the leaves can start to look a bit untidy, and if you take a look at the base of the leaves you will see the first signs of the flowers beginning to emerge.
Don’t be afraid to cut the leaves to their base avoiding any new flower growth. These plants are very tough and can withstand very cold conditions, so don’t be afraid of removing their leaves.
~ 3. Check newly planted trees and shrubs ~
These tend to be quite vulnerable after any recent high winds, now is a good time to give them a closer look at their base, checking to see if they have rocked about.
When this happens the soil loosens, forming pockets of air around the roots causing them to dry out lessening their contact with the soil which is keeping it moist and alive.
If you can see gaps in the soil, then all you need to do is possibly add a little more soil (if needed) and gently firm around the base with your foot, this will ensure the soil reconnects to the roots again.
It’s also a good idea to check any supports and tree ties, making sure they haven’t become loose or broken.
~ 4. Clear all fallen leaves from rose bushes ~
Now, this is where my little hand rake comes in useful!
It’s perfect for this job because they are easier to reach those tricky thorny areas underneath shrub roses.
We have black spot on some of our roses, which is caused by a fungus that can seriously reduce the vigor of a healthy rose if it’s not treated and dealt with. Here’s some good advice on the best way to treat it – click here
~ 5. Feed the birds ~
Even though we have a large garden full of food for our birds and other wildlife, it’s still worth having a designated area where they know there will be food to see them through the winter months.
Our bird table and birdbath are situated outside our kitchen window, right where I can see them, and as a reminder when their food needs topping up! We’ve decided to renew our feeders this winter, as the previous ones had perished over the years. You could also have some fun by making your own, here are some great ideas to get you started! Click here
~ THIS MONTH’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION ~
Winter Gardens by Clare Foster
~ THIS MONTH’S INSTAGRAM PROFILE TO FOLLOW ~
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Kirsty for inviting me to share my garden advice throughout this year. ThankYOU too for reading and following this gardening blog, it’s been a real pleasure! I hope some of my tips have helped expand your garden knowledge and have been of some use to you.
Happy Christmas! Happy New Year! and most importantly Happy Gardening!
Well, that concludes our Monthly Gardening Jobs series. I think it’s us that should be thanking you, Jenny!
I’ve learnt so much about gardening this past year and it’s all been thanks to Jenny and her incredibly helpful tips. My garden has never looked so good and still looks good in December! It used to be barren at this time of year!
I’m really looking forward to watching my garden change through the seasons now, which is something I’d never really got excited about before!
I’m most excited about what Spring will bring – I may have overdone it slightly with the bulb planting this autumn! Well, last years effort was embarrassing! I had 5 daffodils and 8 tulips! More is definitely more when it comes to spring bulbs, I’ve learnt!
So, all that’s left for me to say is a huge huge thank you to Jenny for all the time and effort she put into the blogs over the past year and thank you to everyone who has read them! Please do comment below to show your appreciation for all Jenny’s hard work ~ perhaps even let us know what your favourite tip was?
Right! I’m off to clear the leaves off my roses!
Oh and one final thing!
Within the 3 acres of land that Jenny and her husband Tom, care for, they have also built The Laundry Retreat.
The retreat consists of 2 luxury roundhouses that have been specifically designed just for adults. Offering a wonderfully romantic setting, in a beautiful rural location.
We were extremely lucky to have the opportunity to stay in one of the roundhouses and you can read all about our stay here.
And finally, (still with me?!) if you enjoyed reading this blog, scroll to the bottom to subscribe.
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