There are many different gardening tips for December that you can use to help your garden stay healthy throughout the winter. For instance, you can prune acers, birches and elms to keep them from bleeding and prevent rot from occurring. Additionally, you can plant spring flowering bulbs to brighten up your garden. You can also keep an eye on stored crops to make sure that they don’t get affected by frost.

Clean up your garden

A little bit of end of season gardening cleanup will go a long way to making your yard more inviting to wildlife. It’s also a good idea to clean up any diseased or dead plants to avoid re-introducing a problem to your yard.

This is a good time to add organic fertilizers and soil amendments to your yard. This will get your yard off to a great start in the spring. Adding a little bit of organic mulch can also help improve the quality of the soil.

While it may seem like a lot of work, it will pay off in the end. You’ll find that by removing dead and diseased plants from your yard, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to restore your garden in the spring.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs

Spring-flowering bulbs are wonderful for providing seasons of color to your landscape. These bulbs can be planted in meadows, beds, and borders. They can also be combined with shrubs and perennials.

For the best results, make sure your bulbs have adequate phosphorous in the soil. This can be done by adding fertilizer to your planting beds. Use a granular formula such as 9-6-6. Or, you can add compost or aged manure. Adding organic matter can also improve the drainage of your soil.

Bulbs are available in many different types, shapes, and colors. If you want more choices, you can consult a bulb specialist.

Decide when to take cuttings

If you want to clone a new plant, you need to know when to take cuttings. This method can be a great way to propagate new plants. However, it is important to remember that different plants do better during specific times of the year. It is also important to ensure that the cuttings you take are disease-free.

The best time to take cuttings is early in the morning. This is when the plant is at its peak hydration level. Plants are likely to root well after this stage.

Woody plant cuttings can be taken at any time of the year. Softwood cuttings are usually taken from the tips of green shoots. Hardwood cuttings are typically taken in late fall.

Prevent bleeding by pruning acers, birches and elms

It is important to prune trees in the winter months. The right time of pruning will not only help to reduce the chance of bleeding, but will also promote a healthier plant.

Many deciduous plants are dormant during the winter. Pruning at this time can encourage new growth and help to prevent suckers from growing. If you are pruning a tree, be sure to wear gloves.

When you cut a branch, the sap that conducts sugars around the plant will begin to seep. This may be a gentle seep or a copious flow. A small amount of sap is okay, but if it is leaking from your wound, it could be harmful to your plant.

Protect your plants from frost

If you live in an area that experiences frosty winters, you’ll want to protect your plants from it. Frost can damage or even kill plant leaves and petals, so it’s important to do what you can to protect them.

There are many ways to prevent frost from damaging your plants. One of the most effective is to cover them before the weather turns cold. This will trap the warmer air around the plants.

Another strategy is to move them inside. While you can’t protect all of your plants with this tactic, moving potted plants to the indoors can reduce their chances of being damaged.