Bear up and have courage; the days are only going to be this short for another six weeks or so… but in the few remaining hours of daylight that might be available for gardening, here are some suggestions:
Weather watch
If you haven’t already, move frost-tender plants into the greenhouse, or give them a bit of extra protection with some horticultural fleece. My Cordyline australis is young not fully hardy so once the temperatures approach zero, I go out and cosy it up for the night. Mind you, it’s been that mild with us to date, that I’ve only had to do that once.
It’s been a few years since we’ve had any notable quantities of snow here, but if snow should fall, go out and brush it off branches of trees and shrubs, otherwise the weight of the snow can cause branches to break. Also avoid walking on frosted grass as it damages it.
It’s not all bad though; frost is also beneficial - killing off pests and diseases that might otherwise survive to cause issues in the spring. Freeze-thaw processes also help to break up large clods of soil, making cultivation easier come the spring.
Brassicas, Bays and Blackcurrants
If you have spring cabbages and other winter brassicas, remember to earth them up to give them a bit of protection against strong winds. Tall-growing Brussels sprouts might need staking. Remove any yellowing leaves to prevent the spread of fungal diseases.
Any potted bay plants / trees should be moved to a sheltered spot, or for smaller plants, brought inside if particularly cold weather is forecast; their leaves are susceptible to damage from cold winds.
Now is a good time to prune your blackcurrants - when they have lost their leaves and you can see what you’re doing. For established bushes, prune out about a third of the branches, cutting the older stems to about an inch from the ground. Remove weak shoots and any dead, old or unproductive wood. Finally, mulch around the base with well-rotted farmyard manure or homemade garden compost, but avoid it touching the stems.
Hopefully these tasks sound more appealing than Christmas shopping, despite the damp and gloom. Check back here again soon for some tips on feeding the birds during the winter.