December: the month where your garden looks like it’s given up, your relatives are already squabbling over who carves the turkey, and you’re just trying to survive the festive madness with a little peace. Good news: your garden can give you a break from family drama and reward you with a smug head start on spring. Here’s what you should actually be doing in your garden in December (spoiler: it’s more than drinking mulled wine in the shed, though that’s highly recommended).

Your garden may look like a set from The Walking Dead, but a quick tidy can transform it from horror show to holiday-ready. Clear away fallen leaves, spent crops, and any debris that could harbour pests. Compost what you can, burn what you can’t. Think of it as decluttering for your soil’s mental health.

December garden keyword tip: A tidy plot now means fewer slugs and diseases next year—your plants (and future self) will thank you.

Frost is sneaky—it’ll wreck your dahlias while you’re inside arguing about politics with your uncle. Wrap tender plants in fleece, use cloches, or, if you’re really strapped, that spare duvet you keep for unexpected guests. Add a thick mulch around roots to lock in warmth.

Search note: Protecting plants from frost in December is essential—Google it and you’ll see why every gardener is panic-buying fleece.

Your soil works hard all year; December is when you give back. Spread well-rotted manure or compost on empty beds so nutrients can break down over winter. You don’t even have to dig it in—the worms will handle the heavy lifting.

SEO win: “Soil preparation in winter” is a hot keyword, but really it’s just common sense: feed your soil, feed your plants.

Yes, you can plant things in December—garlic, bare-root fruit trees, and fruit bushes are all game. Pop them in now and you’ll be the smug neighbour casually harvesting garlic while everyone else is panic-ordering bulbs in spring.

Planting ideas:

• Garlic cloves (simple, foolproof, vampire-repelling).

• Bare-root apples, pears, cherries.

• Currant bushes that thrive on winter planting.

Your feathered friends are struggling this time of year, so chuck out some high-energy food and keep water unfrozen. Robins, blackbirds, and tits will flock to you like cousins at a free buffet. If you’re really generous, you’ll even give hedgehogs a hand.

SEO note: “Feeding birds in winter garden” isn’t just a keyword—it’s how you make your garden feel alive in December.

Your garden tools deserve a spa day too. Wash, oil, and sharpen them before rust sets in. Drain and stash hoses, and tuck away garden furniture before frost splits it. Think of it as putting your tools into hibernation.

Quick tip: Rub wooden handles with linseed oil—keeps them from cracking, just like a good hand cream for gardeners.

December evenings were made for plotting. Grab a notebook (or that new planner you swore you’d actually use) and start sketching next year’s beds, making seed lists, and browsing catalogues. It’s garden therapy with a side of escapism.

Keyword focus: “December garden planning ideas” works beautifully here. Plus, planning keeps you too busy to referee who gets the last roast potato.

Here’s the best part: you don’t have to mow, prune most shrubs, or obsess over the perfect lawn. December is about pausing, prepping, and maybe sipping something festive in your muddy boots. Your garden won’t collapse if you let it nap—and neither will you.

So there you have it: December in the garden isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about small, smart jobs that protect, prep, and plan. Whether you’re tidying, planting garlic, feeding the birds, or hiding with your seed catalogues, your garden gives you a much-needed break from holiday chaos. Forget the family arguments—your soil is the only one worth feeding right now.

👉 Over to you: What’s your favourite December garden ritual—mulching, plotting, or just hiding with a hot drink? Drop it in the comments (bonus points if it involves wine).