December Gardening Checklist
A simple guide to flowers, fruit & veg, greenhouse care, houseplants, and winter maintenance
Flowers & Borders
Protect terracotta pots from frost by bringing them indoors or wrapping them.
Rake up fallen leaves in borders to reduce slugs and pests.
Plant bare‑root roses, deciduous shrubs, and ornamental trees.
Hang bird feeders near roses to encourage birds that eat overwintering pests.
Cut stems from winter shrubs and evergreens for festive decorations.
Move potted plants to sheltered spots during very cold spells.
Mulch tender shrubs and climbers with straw or bracken for winter protection.
Plant fragrant winter shrubs in pots, such as sarcococca, chimonanthus, and daphne.
Prune climbing roses anytime between now and February.
Hard‑prune overgrown shrubs and hedges while dormant.
Check stored bulbs and corms for signs of rot.
Fruit & Veg
Mulch around parsnips to stop soil freezing and make harvesting easier.
Plant blackberries, including thornless varieties like ‘Loch Ness’.
Winter‑prune apples and pears to shape trees and improve fruiting.
Plant cordon, fan, or espalier fruit trees to save space.
Start planning next year’s crops and order seeds.
Weed, mulch, and tie in new stems in raspberry and blackberry beds.
Lift and divide rhubarb, replanting healthy outer sections.
Net brassicas to protect them from pigeons.
Clear old crops, composting only healthy material.
Remove yellowing brassica leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Support Brussels sprouts with canes and earth up stems.
Prune grapevines back to one or two buds on each side‑shoot.
Greenhouse
Pot up rhubarb and cover to force early stems.
Remove dead leaves and flowers from overwintering plants.
Pinch out autumn‑sown sweet peas to encourage bushy growth.
Care for indoor azaleas: deadhead, water regularly, and keep cool.
Monitor temperatures and check heaters are working.
Bring hyacinths indoors to flower in a cool, bright place.
Water sparingly to keep the greenhouse dry and reduce disease.
Prune greenhouse grapevines while dormant.
Water cyclamen from below and deadhead regularly.
Check overwintering plants for pests like red spider mite.
Houseplants
Increase humidity to counteract central heating.
Feed weekly with liquid fertiliser through autumn.
Repot moth orchids after flowering if overcrowded.
Water less often and move plants off cold windowsills at night.
Plant amaryllis bulbs for festive blooms.
Repot top‑heavy or root‑bound plants.
Move plants to brighter spots during short winter days.
Wipe dust from leaves, especially on snake plants.
Take leaf cuttings from African violets, begonias, and succulents.
Check for pests such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs.
Rinse large‑leaved plants in the bath or shower to clean foliage.
Sow cacti seeds in warm, moist compost.
🛠️ Garden Maintenance
Keep bird baths topped up with fresh water during frosty weather.
Bring hoses and watering equipment indoors to prevent freezing.
Remove leaves and debris from ponds, letting wildlife escape before composting.
Store your Christmas tree outdoors in water until you bring it inside.
Clean and organise your shed and tools.
Check tree ties and stakes before winter storms.
Prune dormant blackcurrants, removing around a quarter of old stems.
Order well‑rotted manure or compost for winter mulching.
Order summer‑flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladioli.
Reference
BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. (2025). What to do now: December. [online] Available at: https://www.gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now-december/ [Accessed 29 Dec. 2025].
