Gardening in December

We’re getting close to the official first day of winter on December 21st. We’re all decorating, baking, and planning for the two big holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Then cold, dark January comes with low temperatures and for many locations, dreary gray skies. For many of us it means we’re going to end up spending most of our time snuggled up indoors cozy under a blanket. For those of you in more northern climates, you’ve already had snow and are in the winter season no matter what the calendar says. Now we’re in the huge Christmas rush. In another month, the holidays are over and the New Year is upon us.  Are you making resolutions for 2022? How about adding gardening to your list?

Did you know that gardening is good for you? It has incredible well-being benefits. It allows you to soak up vitamin D, exercise, inhale fresh air, and connect with the Earth. If you are mourning the loss of your garden, winter is the perfect time to re-evaluate and plan. What are your goals for next year? Do you want to make your garden a 4 season view? Do you want to simplify  the layout so you can spend more time enjoying your yard? Want to tackle a big project in the spring? Whatever you decide, get inspiration on sites such as Pinterest, Home Depot, Planet Natural, or GardenDesign.com .

Here are some winter gardening tips:

I. Learn more

Winter is a downtime in most gardens and that gives you lots of time to learn more about gardening and design. Take a workshop from a neighborhood garden center, an online class, or a course from your local college.  Join a garden club or attend a flower show. Winter’s quiet time is perfect to catch up on your reading. Did you get new gardening books for Christmas or subscribe to a magazine? Curl up in a comfortable chair by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a new gardening book. It’s time to dream about next spring.

II. December Indoor Garden Projects

Balcony Garden Web has a great post, 21 Exciting Indoor Garden Projects for December. If you miss gardening, choose a fun project. Several suggestions are projects for alternative Christmas trees.

Make a Christmas tree from potted plants.

Group succulents to build a Christmas tree centerpiece.

Make a pine cone Christmas tree.

My suggestions for December and January start with buying a pretty little houseplant. You can buy flowering houseplants to make your home cheerful. Right now a bright red poinsettia is perfect for the season.

One of my favorite houseplants is an anthurium with its red leaves that last for months. It’s great for the holidays and through the winter.

Other houseplants are a herb garden or a succulent garden. Now I know not everyone can keep a houseplant alive. I have several friends with brown thumbs. Buy yourself a pretty faux plant for January when all the Christmas decor comes down. I don’t mean flowers from a dollar store. Nope, invest in a quality faux plant that you like. Tulips, African violets, or several small green plants like succulents would be perfect to brighten a spot on a shelf or table.

The second thing I suggest is feeding the birds and wildlife. Make sure your feeder is sturdy. For more birding pleasure, buy a heated bird bath. You can use it as a feeder or fill with water. Make sure it is visible from a window with a comfy chair.

III. Re-evaluate your garden layout

Winter gives you the bare bones of your garden. If you’ve previously made a garden layout, look at it with a critical eye for places for improvement. Your goal is a garden that has interest in 4 seasons.  Is there a problem area to hide? Perhaps there is a neighbor’s brick or stone fence you’d like as part of your landscape.  Now that trees and bushes are bare, the garden’s interconnection is readily apparent.  For printables on layout and plant design, see Garden Planning Guide. If you haven’t made a garden plan, now is the perfect time to begin.

IV. Add Shrubs

Shrubs such as winter hazel, witch hazel, dogwood, and honeysuckle offer color and fragrance at a time when you need it most. Witch hazel is a large deciduous shrub with colorful, fragrant flowers during the winter that can be grown in USDA Zones 3-9. Witch hazel is virtually maintenance-free and resistant to most pests and diseases. For more information on witch hazel see Growing Witch Hazel.

For a large accent shrub with great winter appeal, Bob Vila suggests Bailey red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Baileyi’). It will grow up to 10 feet tall, and just as wide, with white flowers in spring and green foliage all summer long. When all other color fades in your yard, this charmer has bright red branches to brighten a bleak winter landscape. It needs a little pruning in spring and little else in terms of care. Check out his post, Best Shrubs for any Garden, for more advice.

IV. Add A Patio or Deck

Most of us enjoy being in the garden.  If you’ve wanted to  make your garden more usable this year, consider what additions can extend your use of the garden. If you don’t have a deck or patio, that could be a goal to work toward. It could be the simplest of things, but it can make a big difference to how your garden looks. You could create a patio with concrete slabs, or a decking area can also work well. For a complicated design, I would see the advice of a professional patio builder. A roofed patio extends your home’s space and makes it usable almost year round. HGTV has a good article on winter-proofing your patio. Check it out for ideas.

V. Add Lighting In Your Yard

Lighting is one of those things that a lot of people think about when it comes to the interiors of their homes but end up ignoring when it comes to the outdoor spaces. However, lights can bring out a whole new dimension to your garden. If you really want that fairy-tale ambiance in your garden, outdoor fairy lights strung over the fences and plants are a great place to start.  White lights reflected on snow with the art of mother nature in branches and trees is magical. Check out HGTV’s Landscape Lighting post for ideas. 

Hopefully,  you have already planned a beautiful view from your favorite chair. Fairy lights make the darkness magical. In winter, you can have wildlife visitors in your garden. Make sure you keep the bird feeder filled and enjoy the view.

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