Gardening Checklist For December In The Pacific Northwest
December is a time for festive celebrations, a time when we can ease back on the garden activities. However, there are a few things to do in the garden in early winter. But for the most part, we can enjoy the quiet of a winter landscape. Shorter days and weather conditions limit gardening in December. Winter storms may keep us active checking the garden for damage after high winds, heavy rain or snow. Or it could be mild and allowing us to complete tasks from November. The Pacific Northwest coast can be changeable from one week to the next.
RELATED TOPIC: Winter Garden Beauty And Recommended Plants
What To Do In The Garden Early Winter
- Finish off any leaf raking and gardening clean up.
- By December, your flower garden beds should be cleared up of dead annuals, wilted leaves from hostas and other herbaceous perennials, and hopefully weeds. See More: How To Prevent Weeds
- After heavy rains, check drainage and garden puddles and take note of wet areas that need to be fixed next year.
- Winter is a great time to start planning next year’s garden improvements.
- Garden tools should be cleaned up, and blades sharpened.
- If heavy snow comes in December, check shrubs that benefit from lightly shaking off excess snow that many misshapen or break branches.
- Lime your lawn if still pending from November tasks. See More: Lawn Care.
- Make sure to put feed out for overwintering birds.
Pruning Shrubs And Trees In December
- After storms, check for broken or split branches and remove to prevent further damage.
- Continue to hold back on hard pruning until later in winter.
Kitchen Garden Tasks For Early Winter
- By December, decide whether to leave cool season crops out or harvest and store.
- Best to lift root crops if freezing weather is coming. Or add protective straw or leaf covering.
- If the weather is still mild, improve soil health and work manure or compost into the beds.
