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December

Traditionally, December is regarded as a quiet month with nothing much to do in the garden, but in reality, there’s always something needing your attention.

Jobs around the Garden…

  • Check your winter protection! By improving shelter, staking plants, mulching and wrapping pots you will help prevent any damage from the cold, wet and windy weather
  • If you have a greenhouse, make sure your heaters are working
  • Prune open-grown apple and pear trees
  • Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding
  • Harvest veg such as leeks, parsnips and brussels sprouts
  • Take hardwood cuttings
  • Trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted
  • If you sowed winter salad leaves indoors, they should be ready for picking now to add variety to many meals. As you use them up do not forget to sow more, all you need is a bright windowsill

Flowers to sow…

  • Sweet peas
  • Laurentia
  • Geraniums
  • Hardy cyclamens
  • Snapdragons

Vegetables to grow…

  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Lettuce
  • Lamb’s lettuce
  • Mustard greens
  • Microgreens
  • Chilies
  • Aubergines

Wildlife Gardening in December…

  • Keep bird feeders topped up
  • Make sure the bird bath is clean, full and free from ice
  • Try to not pick all of your winter berries and leave some for the birds
  • Uncut seed heads will continue to provide food for the birds
  • Continue to put out hedgehog food and water for them.
  • If you have fish in your pond you can use air pumps, floats or pond heaters to keep the pond from freezing over

Free tips, friendly advice and special offers

Our residents, Pip and May, are here to help!

Keep your eyes peeled for Pip and May, who are here to answer your FAQs and provide helpful gardening tips.

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Customer Comments

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The Garden CentreTo Visit in Essex

We have parking spaces for up to 450 cars and easy access both onto and off of the A127, which is the main dual-carriage way into Southend-on-Sea. The A127 is off Junction 29 of the M25 which is a 10 minute drive to our door. Plan your visit to Summerhill today. We can’t wait to see you.

Summerhill Garden Centre, Pipps Hill Road North, A127 Arterial Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UJ