Gardening by Month - December

If you’re tempted to plant new shrubs, the soil will remain warm for a while, and it’s easy to work, as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, so get digging. Garsons Plant of the Month is the hellebore or Christmas rose, which goes well in a shady spot with cyclamen.

Holly looks stunning throughout the year and the berries are a welcome sight at Christmas. Berried trees bring birds to the garden too. For berries, grow a female variety and ensure there's a male nearby to pollinate its flowers. Don't take the name as a guarantee, since ‘Silver Queen' is actually male, and ‘Golden King' is a female berry-bearing variety! Ask for advice in the garden centre if you’re unsure.

Conifers are low maintenance. Juniper, pine and spruce all have compact varieties to suit a smaller space, and they work well in a container mixed with seasonal flowering plants. If you’re lacking space in your garden borders, the Japanese maple can also be grown in a pot.

The heuchera comes into its own at this time of year. The leaf colours often take on autumnal hues when other colours have faded in the garden. Heucheras are tough, versatile and good for ground cover in sun or shade. These ornamental evergreen plants have great year-round appeal and are at home in pots or in the garden. Plant different varieties together in complimentary shades.

Tips for helping your plants and wildlife through the colder months:

• It’s easy to pull up weeds while they are still small and the soil is damp.
• Add a generous layer of mulch around the roots of tender plants. This can help regulate soil temperature and protect from frost while keeping in moisture.
• Move pots to a sheltered position to protect them from the worst of winter weather.
• Protect tender plants with horticultural fleece and check it’s securely in place.
• Give strawberry plants a thick layer of straw as a mulch.
• Protect taller plants from fierce winds by staking and tying them for support.
• If you haven’t already pruned your roses, reduce them by about a third and cut back old branches.
• Once you’ve finished all your jobs for December, clean up your garden tools.

Look out for the wildlife in your garden. Put off cutting perennials down until spring as they provide shelter for insects and food for birds. Give birds a regular fresh water supply and check it’s not frozen. Add a bowl of water on the ground for other wildlife. Birds will be pleased for nuts, seeds and suet balls to help them through the leaner months.

Garsons has a fantastic range of feeders and bird tables to choose from, which make lovely Christmas gifts for wildlife lovers. There’s so much gift inspiration in the garden centre, so drop a few hints for new garden tools, something ornamental or whatever else will enhance your gardening year in 2026.

Until next month, have a very merry Christmas!