Jobs for December

• Dig over empty borders and prepare your soil for next year’s planting.
• Group potted plants together in a sheltered spot in the garden to protect them from the harshest winter weather.
• Get pruning! Wisteria, some fruit trees, roses and Japanese maples are just some of the plants that benefit from a winter prune.
• Look after the birds - clean feeders, stock up on wild bird food and make sure they have access to fresh water.
• Prune climbing roses now, removing diseased or damaged growth and tying in any new shoots to their support. Prune older flowered side shoots back by two thirds of their length.
• Plant deciduous, climbing honeysuckle now, but make sure to avoid any frozen or waterlogged ground.
• Leave the faded flower heads on your hydrangeas until spring, as they provide frost protection to the swelling buds further down the stems.
• Spread fresh gravel or grit around alpine & rockery plants.
• Remove yellowing leaves from your winter brassicas — they’re no use to the plant and may harbour pests and diseases.
• Dig over empty borders and pile well rotted manure on top - let the worms and frosts break up the clods of soil.
• Now is the perfect time to prune fruit trees to maintain an open, balanced structure and encourage quality fruit production. The exception is plums, cherries and other stone fruits that should not be pruned until the summer to prevent silver leaf fungus. Use clean, sharp secateurs to avoid damaging your trees.
• Prune grape vines.
• Apply glue bands or grease bands to the trunks of fruit trees to prevent wingless female winter moths climbing the trunks and laying their eggs in the branches.
• If your strawberry plants are over 3 years old, order some new varieties to replace them. Old strawberries can harbour diseases and tend to lose vigour and productivity.
• Brush heavy snow off the tops of greenhouses and cold frames to prevent the glass getting damaged.
• Insulate outdoor taps or turn them off at the mains. Pack away hoses that are not required.
• Don't forget to order your seed potatoes!