2 December, 2022

What to do in in the garden in December

During December In the North, the ground will most likely become frozen. In the South, on the other hand, December comes with a long-awaited relief from the heat to both plants and gardeners. Seize the opportunity of growing cool-climate plants, you usually can’t grow and undertake the physical tasks that haven’t been done in the heat. Unlike sports, gardeners don’t really have an off-season. So put on your warmest gardening gloves because there are a few plants you can start, even in December. Here are some gardening tasks for every region to do to get the winter off on the right foot!

General garden chores in December

General tasks:

Clean up! Cut back dead plant matter and Make use of your autumn leaves.
Cover beds with a deep mulch. Especially “muddy” soil will benefit from it.
Soil improvement!
Cover up and protect tender plants! Extend the season by using cold frames and/or row covers.
Build new! If your soil isn’t frozen it’s a great time to build new beds so the soil has time to settle in and be ready to use by spring.

Gardenize app tips

1. Journal! Use the app and record first freezes or any other significant weather event, create your goals for the coming garden year, make lists and order seeds for sowing.

2. Nothing guarantees a successful late growing season more than healthy mineral rich soil. You can usually obtain a free or low cost test through your local extension office Note this in the “Areas” feature, to remember what you did where. It is good to mulch muddy soil in fall. Create an event connected to the area to remember what kind of mulch you used and where so you analyze the outcome.

3. Gather all fallen leaves you can get your hands on and create a leaf compost. Create an event in Gardenize so you can track when it is time to turn the heap and when it is finished.

Mid-Atlantic (USDA Zone 5-7)

December can be mild or less mild. Either or, there’s a lot to do in the garden in December.

Getting Dark? Put up your winter lights or Christmas decorations this month.
Get ready for winter. Get your shovels and snowblower ready.
Protect from the cold! Mulch and use any suiting protection/covers to protect shrubs from ice and heavy snowfalls.

Midwest (USDA Zone 3–6)

Snowstorm is highly possible. Take care of business in the yard before it is too late…

Damage inspection. Check windbreak fences for damage and trees and shrubs for bark damage.
Brush off or shovel away snow from tender shrubs and trees to prevent damage.
Keep watering until until the ground freezes.
Protect from the cold! Mulch and use any suiting protection/covers to protect shrubs from ice and heavy snowfalls.

Northeast (USDA Zone 4–7)

December weather might give you a bit more time to take care of uncompleted and remaining tasks in the garden.

Damage inspection. Check windbreak fences for damage and trees and shrubs for bark damage.
Keep watering until the ground freezes
Soil improvement! Now is the time to add your compost.
Protect from the cold! Mulch and use any suiting protection/covers to protect shrubs from ice and heavy snowfalls.

Pacific Northwest (USDA zone 7–9)

In the PNW moderate temperature and wet soil awaits.

Keep on Weeding
Plant! Spring bulbs, new trees and shrubs.
Practise Snail and slug control.
Check what parts of your garden need drainage improvement. Where is water collected?
Soil improvement. Now is a good time to add your compost to prepare the soil for spring.
Deer proofing. Prepare for deer by checking your deer fencing to make sure nothing is broken, they will go a long way to have a bite of your plants this time of the year.

Pacific West Coast (USDA zone 7-11)

This is the cold and wet season in the northen parts, while the south may be a little dryer and not as rugged.

In Northern California:

Harvest anything that’s left
Moisture can come with problems. Check for snails and slugs.
Fertilize winter-flowering shrubs.
Prepare to protect tender plants from possible cold snaps by using row covers, cotton blankets and such.

In Southern California:

Cut back ornamental grasses to make room for new growth.
Grow cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, peas, and swiss chard.
Cut back ornamental grasses to make room for new growth.
Keep on harvesting!
If you do experience occasional nighttime frosts, keep row covers or cotton blankets on hand so that you can protect your crops when needed.

Southwest (USDA zone 4-7)

Here December is unpredictable, especially in the mountainous regions.

Cover up and protect tender plants! Extend the season by using cold frames and/or row covers.
In the warmer parts grow cool-season crops, like broccoli, cabbage, kale, peas, and swiss chard.
Soil improvement.

Southeast (USDA 6–11)

Mild December weather is a commonality here, but sudden temperature drops do occasionally occur.

Cover up and protect tender plants! Extend the season by using cold frames and/or row covers.
Prepare soil for spring. Add compost to the garden.
Plant! Spring bulbs, new trees and shrubs.

GARDENIZE GARDEN APP

A gardening friend with a green thumb and photographic memory

Gardenize is an app for gardening and cultivation that helps you to overview, understand and develop your garden and your gardening skills. With an overview it’s easier to succeed and Gardenize structures information and photos and makes it searchable for you. You also get tips and inspiration from other Gardenizers around the world.

Gardenize is free to use with its basic functions and you can download Gardenize from the App Store or Google Play, or create an account the Gardenize web app for web browsers. Get to know Gardenize better here.