Mzzz B's December Garden Blog

This last month has been a roller coaster month, going from floods , to frost and ice, to milder conditions, making it hard to do much gardening. There is so little light that not a lot of growing goes on. Heaven only knows what the plants make of it!
But there are signs of life, snowdrops have started to peak up above the soil, hellebores are producing buds. winter flowering jasmine has started to open its bright yellow flowers, it seems to be able to manage all but the harshest of winters, in very dark corners of the garden, and just brings a bit of sunshine.
Think about the wildlife over winter and don't be too tidy, seed heads are good for birds, piles of leaves or logs are good for a variety of invertebrates , as well as small mammals, and hedgehogs!

Things to do this month:
Sow onion seed, Monty Don recommends this as a Boxing Day activity! Sow in small pots and germinate somewhere warm, plant out when the soil warms up.

Plant shallots- in small pots if your soil is heavy and wet, bring on in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant out when conditions are more favourable.

If your garlic planted in the last couple of months is up and growing cover it with a cloche, if the weather gets really cold.

Clear ponds of leaves, leaving the waste by the side of the pond to ensure any wildlife can get back into the pond.

Take photographs, to see what your garden looks like in winter, to have an overview of the structures and where things could be changed. I have taken photos through the seasons of the garden to remind myself what looks good and what is flowering at different times of the year.

If you have productive rhubarb clear away any rotting stems and foliage and mulch round (but not over) each crown with a generous layer of manure or compost. If your rhubarb is a little tired, now is the time to divide some of your crowns to stimulate fresh vigour. The older, central section of the big, corky roots should be put on the compost and the younger, outer sections of root replanted with the buds about an inch below the surface. Do not pick any stalks from these new sections for the first year and cut the flowers off as they appear. By the second year you should have a good crop and a really good one two years after planting.

Photograph : Jasmine nudilforum, native to China where it is known as' the flower that welcomes spring', i think it is more a reminder that spring is not so far away!