December Gardening Calendar
at Garden-Helper.com

Every month there are chores to do in the garden or in preparation of the season to come. December is a month we associate of course with the holidays and the full frontal assault of winter. For those of us in the Northeast it means snow and the potential for sub zero temperatures. It may seem almost impossible, but there are in fact things we can do in December to plan for and begin our next years' garden. Most likely, however, your houseplants will become your primary concern beginning in December.

This calendar is available as a Gardening Podcast to take with you on your iPod or other mp3 player while you are out in the garden. Although this month you may be far more likely to listen sitting in an easy chair and flipping through catalogs than out in the cold. All Garden-Helper podcasts are available both through the iTunes music store and at Yahoo! podcasts.

Other Calendar Months Coming Soon

January
February
March
April
May
June
October
November
December

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From: GoodBulbs.com

December Gardening Chores

House Plants

Sponging off glossy leaved plants such as Rubber plants and palms is a good idea in December if for no other reason than to make you feel like you are still gardening.Doing this allows your plants to breathe and being indoors during the time of year when indoor pollution is at its' height makes it a great time for this chore.

Give your house plants extra humidity by grouping plants together. The indoor climate during the winter tends to be dryer as we heat our homes.

Lawn Care in December

Lawn care in December is nearly oxymoronic. Really the main thing to consider in December is to keep off the frozen grass. Simple isn't it?

Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers

If you have not yet mulched your rose bushes don't wait any longer than early December to get this done.

Any perrenial beds you have should receive two to four inches of light mulch this monnth.

If you have any leftover seeds store these in a cool and dry place. Some gardeners save their seeds in a jar placed in the refrigerator. If you have vegetables in storage check them for spoilage and disease and remove affected vegetables.

Planting and Transplanting

If the weather allows and your soil has not frozen December is as good as November for transplanting. If you managed to do planting or transplanting in November be sure to keep these newly planted treasures well watered in order to prevent dry soil conditions.

Bulbs - It's still not too late to still get your hands dirty with planting. Tulip bulbs may still be planted in the early part of the month. We recommend the use of Bulb-Tone Bulb Fertilizer to get your bulbs off to the right start.

Cuttings

December is a great month to take cuttings of rhododendrons, heathers, azaleas, and other evergreen shrubs. The cutting should be taken from newly established tip growth, and kept indoors under bright light. The temperature should be kept near a constant 70 degrees.

Pruning in December

Stone fruits such as cherries, prunes and peaches are prime for pruning in December.

Holiday decorations can be made of branches pruned from hollies, junipers and pines.

Composting in December

Encourage winter breakdown of your compost by giving it a good turn in December.

Odd and Ends

If you live in a cold climate you may want to drain and store your garden hoses for the winter to prevent freezing and bursting if you did not do this at the end of November.

Clean and oil your tools for winter storage if you have yet done so. This is also an excellent month to replace any tools that should be retired while the demand and prices are both low.

Prepare! Start planning your garden for next year. Review notes you have taken from this year and start the daydreaming with your catalogs.