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The Garden In December.

December 1, 2017 By Jill Anderson 4 Comments

December in the garden is a good month. It’s the ideal antidote to the business of Christmas, a time to wrap up & quietly get on with things outside.

The last rose from the garden.

I’ve realised that having less space than when we had the allotment, we tend to cram vegetables in too close together. It’s a tempting, but misguided attempt to grow as much as possible. Plants are healthier with air circulating around them & with enough space to spread their roots underground. Too much competition results in weak plants that are more prone to pests & diseases. I knew all this, but the heart over-ruled the head.

The allotment, from a couple of years ago

We grew such a lot when we had the allotment.

It probably contributed to the end of the leeks. After initially doing well, they were attacked by allium leek moth & met a premature end.  They’re my husbands favourite vegetable, & he was very disappointed, to put it mildly, especially as he planted them.

In winter, the rest of the garden is paired back to it’s basic structure. I planned a fair number of evergreen plants when I planted it all last year, & those with something to show through winter were also on the list. Grasses are good for this, they have shapely, winter silhouettes, move gently in the breeze & have seed-heads for the birds.

A few pale lemon sunflowers are still going, I cut these when they were about 4 ft high, just above a pair of leaves to make them multi-stemmed.

The dahlias have yet to be dug up out of their pots, dried off & stored in the shed for the winter, I’m planning to get it done this weekend.

Most of the tulips have been planted, but it’s not too late to plant them if you haven’t got round to it. I like the cycle of growing, getting plants ready to take over when the current lot have faded.

These Tulips at The Chelsea Flower Show, were inspiring for choosing tulips bulbs this year.

Tulip Virichic

Parrot Tulip Apricot Beauty

Tulip Lambada

There are still a few leaves to sweep up from the paths & small lawn, though most have fallen by now. Some have been stashed in bags & tucked out of sight, to eventually turn themselves into leaf-mould, a gloriously rich, crumbly compost, a precious commodity for the garden.

I use it to improve the soil, simply spreading it on the surface as a mulch, where it’ll gradually become incorporated into the soil. When we run out of room, the remaining leaves are collected & recycled by the local council, but none goes to landfill, making me feel a little better about having to give them away.

I hope your garden is doing well, & that you have time to get out there this month.

Here’s a thought, the shortest day is a mere 3 weeks away.

Jill

all photos: Jill Anderson

Related posts:

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Related posts:

Cyclamen hederifoliumPlanting pots to last through winter small pots for sowing seeds, lets get ready to sow seedsLets get ready to sow some seeds How to have a good looking lawn without using chemicals Growing plants for pollinators.
Filed Under: Blog, Gardening, Plants, Recycling & Sustainability, Uncategorized Tagged With: My garden in December, what to do in the garden in December

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Comments

  1. julie Quinn says

    December 1, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    Hello Growing Nicely, I do love the look of your blog and the photos, especially of the tulips, are wonderful. I agree about the grasses being such a boon during winter and such a cheering thought that the shortest day is only three weeks away. Will be spending tomorrow planting the last of the tulips. best wishes Julie at http://londoncottagegarden.com

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      December 4, 2017 at 5:17 pm

      Hi Julie, Thanks! The tulips at The Chelsea Flower Show were amazing, RHS Shows are always inspirational. I hope you got your tulips planted… I still have a few waiting in the shed! Happy gardening, Jill

      Reply
  2. Amanda says

    December 1, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    Your garden, as usual is looking fab. Such a shame about the leeks, home grown ones are delicious. I’ve still got roses AND sweet peas growing, although the recent snow flurry has probably put paid to that now. I had landed about half my bulbs but have had to stop as I’ve had an MS relapse, fingers crossed I can get out again this week and finish them 🙂 xxx

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      December 4, 2017 at 5:20 pm

      Hi Amanda, thank you, I took a few photos in the garden & it’s looking quite stark & wintery, I’ll post over on Instagram. How amazing to have sweet peas growing, they must be in a nice, sheltered spot. I hope you feel well again soon, tulips don’t seem to mind being planted late, I’ve often finished planting them just before Christmas. Jill xx

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Jill Anderson.
This is where you’ll find good, solid information about gardening, growing fruit & vegetables and how to keep it all looking good.
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The healing, calming power of nature in one photo. The healing, calming power of nature in one photo.
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Have a great Sunday.
Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it lo Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it look spectacular with this bold front door.
Today has been hard work, after a lovely time last week in Norfolk. The north coast there is spectacular. Realising these last few months, that there are so many beautiful places here. 
Have a nice evening.
Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Vis Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Visiting to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures, which are amazing, but unprepared for the beauty of the grounds & garden. 
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Hope you’re keeping well, & managing to smile some of the time. x
P.S. more of Houghton Hall & Anish Kapoor on my stories
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One unknown, grown by my grandsons in their homeschooled science lesson.
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Stay cool my friends x
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Spinach, courgettes & garlic in shot here. 
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday x
Hope is a decision I’ve thought long & hard abou Hope is a decision
I’ve thought long & hard about how to view the tumult in the world we’re living in now. 
The only thing that works for me, is to choose hope.

It’s a tall order, but avoiding mainstream news & speculation helps avoid the anxiety, that’s often waiting in the wings.

One day soon there’ll be grandchildren clambering over this again.
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