🌲 Gardening Jobs in December in Scotland: Winter Care and Planning for the Year Ahead
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- 4 days ago
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As December settles over Scotland, gardens drift into a quieter rhythm. Frost sparkles on the grass, birds become daily visitors, and the scent of damp soil reminds us that life still hums beneath the surface. While it might seem like gardening is on pause, there are plenty of useful jobs to do this month to keep your garden healthy and ready for spring.
🌿 1. Protect Plants from Frost and Wind
Scottish winters can be unpredictable — one day mild and damp, the next a deep freeze. Protect tender plants such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, and young shrubs with horticultural fleece or burlap wraps. Check that windbreaks, cold frames, and cloches are secure, especially after stormy nights. In coastal and exposed areas, even hardy plants appreciate a little shelter.
🌱 2. Mulch and Feed the Soil
If the ground isn’t frozen, spread a generous layer of organic mulch — compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure — over beds and borders. This helps insulate plant roots, improve soil structure, and protect beneficial microorganisms during cold spells. In Scotland’s wetter regions, make sure the mulch isn’t piled too close to plant stems to avoid rot.
🍎 3. Prune and Tidy Fruit Trees
Now’s a great time to prune apple and pear trees while they’re dormant. Remove any crossing or diseased branches to improve air circulation. Avoid pruning stone fruit like cherries or plums in winter — wait until summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease.
You can also tie in any loose growth on espalier or trained fruit trees before the wind damages them.
🌾 4. Planting (Weather Permitting!)
If the soil isn’t frozen solid or waterlogged, December can still be a good month to plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and hedges, it's the ideal time to add structure to your garden — perhaps a rowan tree (so Scottish!) or some wildlife-friendly hawthorn hedging.
🥕 5. Harvest and Store Winter Crops
Scottish vegetable gardens can still offer a rewarding harvest in December. Lift parsnips, leeks, Brussels sprouts, and winter cabbages as needed. These hardy crops often taste sweeter after a touch of frost.
Store harvested roots in a cool, dark, frost-free place — a shed, garage, or even a buried clamp if you prefer traditional methods.
🦜 6. Care for Garden Wildlife
Short days and frozen ground make December tough for birds and small mammals. Keep bird feeders topped up with high-energy foods like sunflower hearts, suet, and peanuts. Break the ice on bird baths daily and leave out shallow dishes of fresh water.
If you’re lighting a bonfire, always check for hedgehogs before you strike a match — they may be hibernating inside!
🪴 7. Greenhouse & Tool Maintenance
A little time spent indoors can make a big difference. Wash greenhouse glass to maximise winter light, check heaters are working, and remove any dead leaves or mouldy compost. Clean and oil tools, sharpen blades, and tidy the shed — you’ll thank yourself in March when the growing season kicks in again.
🧭 8. Plan for Next Year
December is the perfect month for garden dreaming. Make a hot cuppa, sit by the fire, and sketch out ideas for the coming year .Order seeds early (especially heritage varieties), plan crop rotations, and think about new features — maybe a wildlife pond or a raised bed for veg.
🌤 A Scottish Gardener’s December Checklist
Protect tender plants from frost and wind
Mulch borders and beds
Prune apple and pear trees
Plant bare-root trees and shrubs (weather permitting)
Harvest and store winter veg
Feed the birds and check for hibernating wildlife
Clean and maintain tools and greenhouses
Plan and order seeds for spring
💚 Final Thoughts
December may feel like the garden is asleep, but it’s really a time of quiet preparation. Every hour you spend tidying, mulching, and planning now will pay off when the light returns.So wrap up warm, pull on your boots, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of your winter garden — Scotland’s landscape is never truly still.
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