Things to do in the garden this month – December

It might look pretty bleak out there, but there are plenty of jobs you can be doing to get ready for Christmas – and get yourself a good head start for next year!

Plant out your garlic
You can just use cloves from your kitchen, but you’ll get a better result if you buy screened, disease free ones from a garden centre. The saying goes ‘Plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest’ but provided you get them in while there is a frost you should be ok (garlic needs a frost to start it growing). Plant them out about a hand’s span apart with the pointy end upwards – make a hole with your finger and drop them in so the top is just below the surface, then cover with soil. If you live somewhere with a very cold climate you will want to cover them with some garden fleece until the worst is over.

Harvest ready for Christmas dinner
Be sure to pick all your winter vegetables ready for the big day. Parsnip, carrots, leeks, cabbage, kale and of course brussels sprouts will be at their best this time of the year. Make sure you cover your cabbages and kale with some garden netting as the pigeons will be hungry and peck them to bits!

Prune your soft fruit
Pick a dry day with a bit of a breeze for best results and make sure you have a good sharp pair of secateurs. Cut autumn fruiting raspberries right back to ground level for maximum growth next year. Now is the time to prune gooseberries and currant bushes – make sure you burn any infected cuttings to stop disease from spreading.

Lift and divide rhubarb
If your rhubarb crowns have been in place for more than 2 or 3 years, they will probably benefit from being split up. Dig up the crown and use a good sharp spade to divide off sections which have a healthy looking bud on them – it looks severe, but you will end up with more healthier plants as a result (if you don’t need extra, why not give them to another keen grower).

You can also put a pot over one of your rhubarb crowns to start forcing them at this time of year.

Dig over bare earth
When it’s not too wet, dig over patches of bare ground and pull out any weeds. The frost will them break down the soil even further to give you a nice fine bed ready for next year. Be sure to clear up any leaves and dead plants as well and stick them in your composter.