Garden Chores for the Christmas Break

Do you also have a few nice days off during the Christmas break—or maybe even two weeks off? Even at this time of year, there are plenty of fun gardening tasks you can do. Think of planting new plants (as long as it doesn't freeze during the day), pruning, maintaining your tools, and feeding the birds.

Most people don’t do much in the garden during this time of year. Of course, it’s often cold (or wet), and the days are short. But there’s still plenty to do during the Christmas break. Here’s an overview of fun (and maybe not-so-fun) small and large garden projects.

What can you do in the garden during the Christmas break?

• Plant the last of the flower bulbs (many varieties, such as tulips, can still be planted).

• Feed the birds in your garden: Hang up suet balls and offer seeds, (rotting) fruit, bird peanut butter, and other bird food. This way, you’ll not only help the birds get through the winter, but there will also always be something to see in your garden!

• Protect plants from frost. When frost is expected, wrap frost-sensitive plants in burlap or garden fleece. This will protect them from frost damage.

• Empty buckets and containers. If you have them outside, turn them upside down. This will prevent the water inside from freezing (and keep animals from thinking they’ve found a place to hide in them).

• Remove any snow from hedges, shrubs, and delicate plants. This will prevent them from collapsing under the weight. Of course, be sure to take some nice photos first!

• Plant or transplant (deciduous) trees, shrubs, and perennials. They are currently dormant, but will sprout again in the spring.

• Fill a pot or container with winter-blooming plants. Even in winter, some plants still bloom, and there are many that are highly ornamental. A pot full of winter-blooming plants will bring an explosion of color to your garden.

• Remove leaves from the lawn and pond. Avoid walking on the grass unnecessarily when there is frost.

• Take winter cuttings from your favorite shrubs and plants. This is an easy (and free) way to propagate your plants. These 52 plants are very easy to propagate from cuttings!

• Check the dahlias you harvested earlier. Don't let them dry out completely, and remove any moldy parts or plants.

• Hang up Christmas lights and set up decorative lighting in the garden, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet. You’ll still be able to enjoy them even after the Christmas break.

• Prune the grapevine (Vitis vinifera). Winter pruning is crucial for shaping the grapevine and ensures a good harvest in the summer. Once you’ve established a nice framework, prune back all the side shoots that have borne fruit to about 2–3 buds.

• Prune the wisteria. Cut back all side branches to about 2–3 buds for maximum bloom in the spring. Pruning a little later is not a problem, by the way.

• Prune deciduous trees such as pollarded willows, poplars, ash trees, oaks, and alders (all of which are trees not typically found in small gardens). You can also prune deciduous espalier trees now. Although winter pruning used to be the standard practice for trees, it is now increasingly done in the spring and summer.

• Clean up any fireworks that have landed in your yard.

• Order seeds for the upcoming gardening season.

• Make plans for the coming gardening season. Look back on this year: What would you like to change in your garden? What could be improved?

Check out all the December gardening tasks and all the January gardening tasks in the Garden Calendar.

Or just let things be…

Last but not least: Don’t forget to just relax and enjoy your garden! Don’t feel like doing chores right now? Just let things be, grab a warm cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, and enjoy your winter garden!