DECEMBER

​WINTER MAINTENANCE

deciduous trees can be pruned
- think of the 3 d's - dead, damaged and diseased - but keep the shape
prune dormant shrubs
prune vines and acers
prune wisteria (summer shoots back to no more than 3 buds
clear weeds and mulch beds
clean paths and patios to stop them becoming slippery - pressure wash

​JOBS ....

turn the compost to keep it healthy and rot down quicker and properly
cover brassicas with netting to protect from pigeons
fleece tips of fig from the frost

​SOW now .. 

alliums - garlic, shallot, onion
legumes - broad beans
leaves - winter lettuce, mustard greens
flowers - sweet peas, geraniums, begonias and snapdragons - in the greenhouse or windowsill
indoor herbs - mint, chives, dill

​PLANT ...

​bare root plants - fruit trees/bushes, rhubarb, hedging

TOOLS

service garden tools ​- lawnmowers, strimmers etc
clean and sharpen hand tools, apply oil
​

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