Gardening in December can seem like a bit of a forlorn hope between the rain, the cold and the distinct lack of growth. But rest assured, there’s plenty to keep you occupied this month and plenty to get you into the festive spirit.

Any major cutting or clearing work of overgrown shrubs is best done now, when they are dormant. It is always reassuring to get clearing now, in the knowledge that nothing is nesting, rather than leaving it too late into the spring.

Leave major pruning to early February

I always avoid pruning roses hard at this time of year, but rather take about a third of the growth off to stop them blowing about and damaging themselves in a gale. Leave the major pruning sessions to early February.

Taking hardwood cuttings from dormant trees, shrubs and roses in your garden now is a very cost-effective and reliable way to increase the plants you like and want to have more of. Simply cut a 20cm length of this year’s growth. Cut it flat just below a bud at the bottom and diagonally just after a bud at the top, and insert it into a pot of compost. Come spring it should have rooted and started to grow. Maybe do a few cuttings as backups, in case some fail.

A garden is never complete without at least a few more plants

Christmas is around the corner and gardeners are one of the easiest groups of people to buy for. It seems a garden is never complete without a few more plants, and a gardener is always in need of a couple more tools and maybe a new pair of gloves.

Bare root fruit trees and roses would be a good addition to any Christmas list, and getting them bare root makes them much more affordable. Avoid planting in a heavy frost, but otherwise these can be planted from now until April.

A real display of beauty and intrigue

If you’re looking to brighten up your garden at this time of year, it isn’t flowers that you need, it’s birds. By feeding the birds in your garden, you not only provide a vital service for them, but they also offer a real display of beauty and intrigue when your floral displays will undoubtedly be lacking.

In December, there’s no better way to connect with your garden than by bringing it indoors. There is no other time of year where this practice is more prominent. Aside from the Christmas tree, taking cuttings of our evergreen holly, ivy or berried mistletoe is a lovely way to bring the joy of the season indoors.