Barbara Stockitt's Guide to Classic Gardening...

December

Continue to fertilize BUXUS and TAXUS plants that have not been fed.  If the plants are nutritionally starved the leaves will be discolored.

ESTABLISHED BORDERS.  Continue cleaning up whenever the soil conditions allow.  Remove dead growth, weeds and leaves.

Clear fallen leaves  from rose beds. Burn if there are traces of black spots, rust or mildew.  Check that the supports for standard roses and climbers are secure without being too tight.

SHRUBS, CLIMBERS AND WALL plants.  Have protective material ready for the more tender plants.  Fleece will keep out 5 degrees of frost.  If the weather turns mild again be ready to remove the fleece.

Established HEDGES. Remove any snow from the coniferous or evergreen hedges if it is weighing down the branches. Take care when doing this because the branches can become  brittle in the cold.

Check that areas where SNOWDROPS are planted are clear of leaves and debris, so that you can appreciate their beauty when they flower.

In the VEGETABLE garden lift and store swedes and late sown carrots. Continue to remove spent crops.  Try to complete the digging of the plot before the ground becomes too wet.

NEW LAWNS.  Turves may be laid whenever the weather and soil conditions allow. Rake up leaves on existing lawns and stack up to form leaf-mould.