Gardening tips for December

The most important things in brief

• In December, gardening tasks are heavily influenced by the weather: When there's snow, sensitive shrubs should be tied together, while in mild temperatures, evergreen plants should be watered regularly and dried fruit removed from fruit trees.
  
• A birdbath that is constantly filled with water is essential for garden birds, even in the cold months, to quench their thirst and preen their feathers, while natural feeding aids supplement the limited food supply.
  
• With atmospheric winter decorations such as metal garden ornaments, you can create festive accents in your garden. Garden; the Novara metal star from ELEO is particularly well-suited for this and can be beautifully combined with natural materials. For many people, December, with its festive magic, is one of the most beautiful months of the year. However, when it comes to gardening, the last month of the year is divided: winter wonderland or dreary gray? Depending on the weather, there are different tasks to be done in the garden. Find out exactly what in our gardening tips for December.

  Contents

  • Gardening Checklist for December
  • When there's a lot of snow: Tie shrubs together
  • When the weather is mild: Don't forget to water
  • Remove dried fruit from fruit trees
  • Leave birdbaths out and fill them with water
  • Decorate the garden festively
  
  

  Gardening Checklist for December

  • Regularly Watering in mild weather
  • Fill birdbath with water
  • Tie shrubs together in snow
  • Care for fruit trees, remove withered fruit

  In heavy snow: Tie shrubs together

  Should December bring heavy snowfall, tie up sensitive shrubs. Too much snow puts the branches at risk of breaking under the weight. You can use jute twine, for example, to tie them together. Gather the branches loosely upwards and tie the shrub into a loose bundle. Background: Snow doesn't adhere as well to upright branches and slides off more easily.

  

  Tying up sensitive shrubs during heavy snowfall prevents the branches from breaking. Image source: unsplash.com, Georg Eiermann

  Don't forget to water in mild weather

  If December is mild – as it has been in recent years – don't forget to water your plants regularly. This applies primarily to evergreen plants such as ivy, hellebores, or grasses. You don't need to water as often as in summer. But watering a little now and then is advisable, especially if December is very dry. Do not water when there is frost. The ground is frozen, the water cannot seep into the soil and freezes on the surface. Remove dried-up fruit from fruit trees If your fruit trees still have fruit that has dried up, you should remove and dispose of it. Dried-up, unfallen fruit on apple, pear, or cherry trees can be a sign of diseases such as Monilia fruit rot. This is caused by fungal pathogens. By collecting the fruit, you prevent the rot from recurring the following year. ``` src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0589/5569/4173/files/Apfel_vertrocknet_480x480.jpg?v=1734339076" alt="">

  Remove any dried-up fruit still hanging on fruit trees. Image source: KI/Gemini

  Leave the birdbath out and fill it with water

  If you have a birdbath in your garden, don't remove it in winter. It's important for your feathered garden visitors to have a constant source of water available even during the colder months. Not only to quench their thirst – garden birds use the water to clean their feathers, stimulating the production of an oily secretion that protects them from the cold. You can further support garden birds with a regularly filled bird feeder and hanging suet balls. In December, the natural food supply is very limited.

  

  Empty birdbaths in winter? Please, no! A constant source of water is important for garden birds, even in the cold months. Image source: pixabay.com, GeorgeB2

  Decorate the garden festively

  Admittedly, the view of the garden in December is rather dreary. But this can be quickly changed with atmospheric winter decorations. Use solar-powered fairy lights, fir branches and pine cones, as well as metal garden decorations in the form of stars, for example, to give your garden a festive touch.

  Tip:Fir branches in flower boxes not only add festive accents, they also protect overwintering plants from frost.

  

  Looks great in December by the front door and on the patio: The ELEO Metal Star Novara, decorated with wintery natural decorations. © ELEO