December 2007 - Still time for some pruning

December, there's not so much to do outside now as all the leaves should have fallen and plants should have died back but there is still some planting and pruning possible.

Lawns Any late leaves should be cleared up. If you still have any bare patches or damaged edges then now is a good time to repair them. You can also recut any damaged edges if they are really damaged. Still avoid walking on the lawns in the morning if it is frosty. Now is the time to get your garden machinery serviced whilst they are not being used.

Greenhouse Keep dead or yellow foliage picked off and clear up any fallen leaves as this will help prevent grey mould. Also keep an eye on green and white fly as they can still be a problem. If you get a mild day then open the door or a vent for an hour or two, as this will ventilate the greenhouse and help with reducing diseases. Don't forget to keep an eye on Sweet Peas in the cold frame if you have grown any.

Vegetable Garden Now the seed catalogues are about it is a good job, on a wet days when you can't do much outside, to sit indoors and order your seeds for this Spring. You can still dig over your vegetable garden this month and don't forget to add compost or well rotted manure. Continue to pick sprouts and dig up parsnips. Watch out for mice as they can continue to eat any crops which are still in the ground. Pigeons can also be a problem too. Keep checking any stored vegetables to make sure that none have started to rot and remove as required.
Borders Continue to cut back any Perenials which have faded and clear up any leaves from the borders, these with the dead plant tops can be added to the compost heap. If the ground is too wet try not to walk on the borders too much as you will compact the soil. I f you do have to walk on it make sure that you fork it over afterwards.

Pruning If you didn't prune your fruit trees last month then you can still do it this month. If you have young trees with stakes check that the stakes are still in a good condition and check that any tree ties are not too loose/tight around the tree, loosen or tighten as required if necessary.

Birds Continue to ensure that you keep your bird feeders and water baths clean, especially with bird flu still around - even though the risk is minimal it still helps reduce any risk by maintaining good hygiene with your feeders and water baths. There are special detergents available on the market. Make sure you keep all feeders stocked up with different feeds - I have definitely seen an increase in the amount the birds are eating now that the weather has turned colder - you can also supplement the regular feeders with scraps such as cheese crumbs, pieces of bacon and windfallen orchard fruit. Regularly change and top up the water in the bird bath, keeping it ice free after a hard frost. Another good tip if possible is to hang your feeders over a hard surface area as this will provide easier housekeeping therefore reducing the prospects of rats.

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