{"id":8014,"date":"2016-12-19T12:42:42","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T12:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8014"},"modified":"2020-02-27T10:23:41","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T10:23:41","slug":"december-a-handy-list-of-things-to-do-and-a-list-of-5-ideas-for-christmas-presents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/december-a-handy-list-of-things-to-do-and-a-list-of-5-ideas-for-christmas-presents\/","title":{"rendered":"December…a handy list of things to do and a list of 5 ideas for Christmas presents!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Winter<\/p>\n

As if you\u2019re not busy enough in December we thought we\u2019d compile a handy list of things you could be doing in your garden – just in case you\u2019ve got Christmas under control! December can sometimes be a mild month – but sometimes nature throws a curve-ball and we get that long awaited snow! But is your garden snow-ready?<\/p>\n

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  1. Group your pot plants into a nice neat area, offering shelter against a fence or shed or somewhere out of the wind in your garden. Keeping them together offers extra protection from those harsh frosts.<\/li>\n
  2. Don\u2019t be tempted to get rid of the fading hydrangea flowers, we know it looks messy but your plants will thank you in Spring as you will have allowed the swelling buds further down the stem, the ultimate protection from the frost.<\/li>\n
  3. If your rose bushes suffered from black spot this year, clear away any infected leaves from around the base of your rose bush, this will hopefully help to reduce the chance of infection in 2017.<\/li>\n
  4. If you have a nice clear day, take 10 minutes to check all your climbers are well secured.<\/li>\n
  5. Has your wisteria gone crazy this year? Now is the time to tidy it up – you can cut it back to 2-3 summer side-buds.<\/li>\n
  6. If you are lucky enough to have holly and mistletoe in your garden you can happily harvest it now. Keep it outside with the stems in cold water to keep it fresh, it will be ready to use whenever you need it.<\/li>\n
  7. This is the perfect time to prune those fruit trees. Plums, cherries and other stone fruit are best left until Summer though, as they can be prone to silver leaf fungus if pruned in Winter.<\/li>\n
  8. Raspberry canes can be planted now, ready for next year.<\/li>\n
  9. If you\u2019re really looking for some jobs then why not clean out the greenhouse? It should be nice and empty and in need of a good clean. Make sure you use a horticultural disinfectant, household cleaners should not be used.<\/li>\n
  10. Have a general tidy up, put your hoses away in the shed, insulate your outside tap, and if you have a warmer day it won\u2019t hurt to ventilate the greenhouse to reduce humidity and disease.<\/li>\n
  11. If you have an open fire or a wood burner now might be a good time to chop some kindling, and stock up on fuel. Ordering in bulk usually saves time and money and can be delivered pretty quickly.<\/li>\n
  12. If we have a frost or even snow, avoid walking on your lawn if possible as the grass underneath is at risk of being damaged. Keep clearing those lawns!<\/li>\n
  13. If you like to attract birds, then now is a good time to hang fat balls, or even half a coconut. Clean out those bird feeders and water bowls, and keep them topped up. Attracting birds to your garden is always a good idea as they eat the pests that you don\u2019t want!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    And what does the gardener want for Christmas? We\u2019ve compiled a shortlist of 5 things to inspire you if you need to buy for someone who is an avid gardener!<\/p>\n