Tending to a garden isn’t necessarily high on your December to-do list, but if gardening is your passion, there’s still plenty to keep you busy.
Mulch leaves and twigs: Fallen leaves and twigs do a lot of good. Cover a pile of material with a waterproof tarp to keep it warm and prevent nutrients from being washed away by rain. Turn material regularly. Place some of the fallen leaves in flower beds to prevent mud from splashing on small plants during rain.
Protect containerized plants: Move containerized plants along south- or west-facing walls. They will absorb reflected daytime heat and remain protected from most of the wind. Move potted cacti and succulents under a patio cover so they’re protected from the cold and rain.
Moisten the soil and ground cover to prevent frost damage: If you hear a frost warning in your area, water your garden soil well before evening. Clear hours at night are when frosts are most likely to occur. Moisture from the soil will evaporate and warm the air around your plants preventing the roots and plants from freezing. The mulch will also keep the soil and roots warmer than the air temperature.
Control weeds: It’s amazing how quickly weeds appear after a rain. They are easier to remove when they are small and the soil is moist. Once removed, add a layer of mulch to suppress any new growth.
Planting bare root trees, shrubs and roses: make sure the tree roots are moist before planting. Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and deep enough for the root ball to stand on its own. Cover with loose soil. Create a small ridge of soil around the trunk so that water does not run off. Add mulch (without touching the trunk) to keep the roots warm during the winter. Water the tree slowly after planting so that the water penetrates deep into the root system. Continue watering deeply and regularly until spring (even after light rains).
Harvest and Plant Cool Season Vegetables: Vegetable plants added in October should be producing by December. You can still plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, kale, mustard, and lettuce. Beets, carrots, and radishes can also be planted in December.
Add California natives: Plant native vegetation now so it becomes established in the spring. Your local nursery should have the varieties that do well in your area. According to the California Native Plant Society, there are more than 7,000 native plants in California. Go to their site to see which plants are native to your specific region, https://calscape.org.