Gardening in December offers both challenges and opportunities for garden enthusiasts. As winter takes hold, it's the perfect time to prepare your garden for the colder months while embracing the festive spirit. Whether you're protecting delicate plants from frost or adding vibrant festive colours, December is a month to focus on maintenance, aesthetics, and planning for the coming spring.
At Boma Garden Centre, we provide the expertise and products to help your garden flourish all winter long. From practical protection measures to decorative enhancements, our guide will equip you with the knowledge to keep your garden thriving, no matter the weather.
Gardening in December: The Basics
December is a month of transition in the garden. The vibrant colours of autumn have faded, and frosty mornings remind us that winter is here. Sheltered courtyards in places like Hampstead, Highgate or Muswell Hill often experience milder microclimates, but container plants still require fleece. However, this doesn't mean your garden should be neglected. On the contrary, it's a time to focus on maintenance, protection, and planning for the upcoming spring. By taking a few essential steps now, you can ensure your garden remains a beautiful and inviting space throughout the winter.
One of the key aspects of December gardening is protection from the elements. Frost and cold winds can be harsh on plants, especially those that are less hardy. It's important to insulate your plants, whether through using Mulching Bark, wrapping pots, or relocating more delicate species.
Additionally, December is an ideal time to prune dormant trees and shrubs, setting the stage for healthy growth in the spring.
Boma’s Exclusive Winter Plants, Decor & Christmas Trees
Boma Garden Centre offers everything you need to celebrate winter and Christmas in style, from premium fresh cut Christmas trees to festive winter decorations and handmade wreaths.
Choose from cut or pot-grown Christmas trees, including Nordmann Fir, Fraser Fir and Noble Fir for homes of any size—pot-grown options can even be replanted after the holidays for sustainability. Our fresh wreaths and garlands feature seasonal evergreens, berries, and pinecones to welcome guests with authentic festive charm.
Shop Our Entire Christmas Collection
Boma’s 12 Best Gardening Tips For December
December is the perfect time to ready your garden for the winter months while embracing the festive season. With Boma Garden Centre’s exclusive seasonal offerings and expert advice, your garden can thrive all winter. Here are our top tips to help you prepare:
1. Plant for Privacy and Winter Structure
If your window faces a tree-lined street such as Shepherds Hill, where the summer-laden branches provided protection from city-gapers, the view is now bare. Creating privacy in your living room can be a task that is both functional and aesthetic, especially in urban environments where space is at a premium. That’s where window boxes and trough planters come in really handy.
Ideal for balconies and terraces across Camden, Belsize Park and St John’s Wood, the Mayfair Evergreen Screen Window Box is an excellent choice for adding structure and privacy. This planter thrives year-round, providing lush greenery that acts as a natural barrier. Its dense foliage ensures that even in the starkness of winter, your outdoor space maintains a sense of seclusion and intimacy.
Planted Troughs are particularly effective in urban settings, where garden space may be limited. By strategically placing these planters, you can create defined areas within your garden, enhancing both privacy and visual appeal. With minimal maintenance required, this planter is an ideal choice for those looking to enhance their garden's structure and aesthetics during the winter months, where branches on deciduous trees are dormant.
2. Showcase Festive Colours with Ready-Made Planters
Why Boma developed a planter range for this time of year, came from years of gardeners’ questions and the need for practical solutions. Being a festive period may be a coincidence. The birth of Festive Planters whether rooted historically or a contemporary invention, works well in London and has become a tradition.
The season is all about colour and vibrancy, and your garden should reflect this joyous time of year. Ready-made planters are perfect for entrances in Hampstead, Highgate and affluent inner-city neighbourhoods. Boma’s Cottage Grove Bowl adds a splash of festive colour to patios, windowsills, and entranceways. Available in vibrant red, white, or purple cyclamen, these planters bring life and energy to any outdoor space.
Boma’s outdoor winter planters use either hardy garden cyclamen (hederifolium, coum) making them fully outdoor-suitable, or florist cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) which may require sheltered placement.
For those seeking more variety, the Hampstead Haven Window Box offers similar festive colours and is perfect for welcoming guests during the holiday season. Placing these planters at entranceways or along pathways creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, setting the tone for your home during the festive period. With Boma Garden Centre's wide selection of ready-made planters, you can easily transform your garden into a festive wonderland.
3. Elevate Your Garden with Prestigious Designs
For those looking to add a touch of luxury to their garden, the Harrington Heritage Planter is an excellent choice. This glazed blue terracotta pot, filled with a mix of evergreen plants, offers a sophisticated and timeless look. The striking blue glaze not only complements the lush greenery but also adds a unique and elegant touch to any outdoor space.
For a truly prestigious look, consider the Belgravia Collection of Taxus Balls and Skimmia. These planters are the epitome of elegance, offering a refined and upscale appearance. The combination of Taxus Balls and Skimmia creates a harmonious blend of textures and colours, making them an ideal choice for those seeking to elevate their garden's design.
With Boma Garden Centre's expert guidance and high-quality products, you can achieve a garden that exudes sophistication and charm.
4. Focus on Compact Beauty
Gardening in small spaces can be challenging, but with the right planters, you can create stunning displays that maximise every inch. Wilma’s Heritage Box is a compact yet striking planter available in red, white, and purple tones. Its versatile design makes it perfect for small balconies, patios, or even indoor spaces where space is limited.
For those seeking a bolder statement, the Tudor Trio Cyclamen Sets offer a combination of stunning colours and textures. These sets are designed to invigorate small corners with their vibrant hues and intricate patterns. By incorporating these planters into your garden, you can achieve a sense of elegance and beauty, regardless of space constraints. Boma Garden Centre provides a range of options to help you make the most of your compact garden space.
5. Prepare for Frosty Weather
As winter sets in, protecting your garden from frost becomes a top priority. Frost can be particularly damaging to tender perennials and container plants, making it essential to take preventative measures. One effective method is to wrap pots in hessian or fleece, providing a protective layer that insulates the roots against the cold.
Additionally, applying mulch around the base of plants is a simple yet effective way to retain soil warmth and moisture. Mulch acts as a barrier, preventing frost from penetrating the soil and reaching the roots. This technique is particularly beneficial for plants that are susceptible to frost damage, ensuring they remain healthy and robust throughout the winter.
6. Prune for Health and Growth
December is an ideal time to prune many of your deciduous trees and shrubs that may now be dormant. Pruning during this period helps shape the plants and encourages healthy regrowth in the spring. It's important to use sharp, clean tools to make precise cuts, reducing the risk of disease and promoting optimal plant health.
It’s also important to note which trees and shrubs should and shouldn’t be pruned at this time of year.
| Safe to Prune in December | Do NOT Prune in December |
|---|---|
| Apple and pear trees | Acer (maple) |
| Many deciduous trees except sap‑bleeders | Betula (birch) |
| Light rose tidy only (heavy pruning in Feb/March) | Juglans (walnut) |
| Hornbeam | |
| Grapevines (bleed if pruned now) | |
| Hydrangea macrophylla (buds exposed to frost) | |
| Penstemon, Fuchsia, or any tender shrubs |
Pruning not only maintains the aesthetic appeal of your garden but also plays a crucial role in the overall health and vitality of your plants. By removing dead or damaged branches from the above plant types, you allow the plant to focus its energy on new growth, resulting in more robust and vibrant foliage. This practice is essential for maintaining the structure and form of your garden, ensuring it remains a beautiful and healthy space.
7. Maintain Garden Accessories
As the colder weather approaches, it's essential to care for your garden accessories to ensure they are ready for use when the growing season returns. Cleaning and storing tools, water features, and garden furniture before frost sets in will prolong their lifespan and keep them in optimal condition.
Begin by thoroughly cleaning your tools, removing any dirt or debris that may have accumulated over the growing season. Once clean, store them in a dry, sheltered area to prevent rust and damage. Similarly, garden furniture should be cleaned and covered or moved indoors to protect it from the elements.
8. Plant Winter Plants in Planters For Easy Relocation
Enhancing your garden with winter plants such as hellebores, camellia, skimmia, heuchera, cordyline, bay trees, conifers, and other evergreens can keep your outdoor space vibrant throughout the colder months. These hardy plants not only offer lush greenery and colourful blooms but also provide structural beauty. Pairing them with planters allows for easy relocation, making them perfect for patios, doorways, and balconies.
For plant care, remember that camellia buds are sensitive to early morning sun after frost, which causes them to brown and drop. Camellias should be positioned in a sheltered, north- or west-facing aspect to prevent bud loss. Cordyline australis is reasonably hardy in London but young plants and variegated forms can suffer frost damage, so consider tying leaves together for frost protection or using fleece on cold nights.
Boma Garden Centre specialises in a unique curation of handmade terracotta planters, that has grown to be one of London’s largest pot collections, focused on beautifying outdoor spaces, that demand impeccable taste. Available in various styles and sizes, these planters enhance the aesthetic appeal of your winter arrangements and are excellent for winter root insulation, ensuring protection during frosty weather. A comprehensive range of matching Terracotta Saucers and Pot Feet are also available to protect planters from ground frost and improve drainage in winter.
9. Plan for Next Season
It's not too late to plant bulbs for spring. Use the quieter gardening period to sketch plans for new garden projects. Whether it’s redesigning your flowerbeds or investing in stunning planters, now is the time to envision your dream garden.
Consider drawing a detailed layout of your garden space, noting areas that need improvement or redesign. This is also an ideal time to research new plant varieties that might thrive in your garden's specific conditions. By preparing now, you can ensure a more organised and fruitful growing season in the spring. For inspiration and expert advice, Boma’s horti team can assist in creating plans that align with your gardening goals. Boma Garden Centre also provides a Planting Service to that can get you started.
10. Festive Shopping for the Holidays
It’s the perfect time of the year for festive plants, planters, preparing for the holidays, to take advantage of seasonal discounts and promotions. Shopping early, avoids the last-minute rush and gives ample time for decoration both indoors and out, preparing your garden and home for holiday gatherings.
With London’s most prized premium Christmas trees display, and the city’s most beautiful collections of hand-made Christmas decorations, visiting Boma Garden Centre at this time of the year is a memorable treat. It has become the season’s quintessential experiential outing for families and friends.
Please note that Boma Garden Centre will be closing for the holiday season, usually on the 23 December, so visit us in the first three weeks of December to secure your Christmas trees, festive planters, and garden essentials. Don’t miss out on our exclusive collections and promotions to make this winter your most beautiful yet!
11. Embrace Winter Vegetable Gardening
With outdoor gardening limited by the cold, December is the perfect time for high-density areas such as W1, E1 and central London flats to benefit from LED grow-light-supported herb growing. Basil, dill, coriander, chives, and microgreens need full-spectrum LED lighting for 10–14 hours a day. A windowsill alone is insufficient due to low winter light levels, but with LED grow lights, you can enjoy a steady supply of fresh herbs throughout the season.
Microgreens such as radish, coriander, rocket, and spinach are excellent choices for indoor cultivation. These fast-growing seedlings can be harvested within a few weeks, providing fresh, flavour-packed salad leaves all year round from your windowsill.
Boxing Day is traditionally the time to sow onions for an early start. Varieties like ‘Ailsa Craig’ are ideal for winter sowing and can be started in modules or pots in a cool greenhouse before transplanting in spring. Winter also offers the best time to plant garlic cloves. In London’s clay-heavy gardens, improve drainage by growing garlic in raised beds or by mixing grit into the soil.
For an early harvest next year, sow broad beans such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’. Outdoor sowing is only suitable during mild spells; otherwise, start beans indoors in modules and transplant when conditions improve. Planting rhubarb crowns now in compost-enriched, well-drained soil will also help establish strong plants for a generous crop next year.
12. Engage in Wildlife-Friendly Practices
Winter can be tough for garden wildlife, so consider incorporating practices that support local fauna. Providing food and shelter for birds, for instance, can be a rewarding way to enjoy nature's presence in your garden. Install bird feeders and birdbaths to attract a variety of species.
Additionally, Hedgehogs, only thrive where gardens connect, so simple 13×13 cm fence gaps help wildlife movement in dense London areas. Leaving some garden areas a bit wild can also offer shelter for insects and small mammals.
Supporting garden birds in winter is vital — Boma stocks the full Henry Bell bird care collection, including:
- Henry Bell sunflower hearts & seed bells
- Suet blocks & fat balls
- Niger seed (goldfinches)
- Squirrel-proof feeders & bird water drinkers
- Birdbaths & ice-free care
- Nesting boxes (winter roosts)
By doing so, you contribute to biodiversity and help maintain a balanced ecosystem. For further guidance on creating a wildlife-friendly garden, feel free to consult with our experts at Boma Garden Centre.
Summary and Key Takeaways
December gardening provides an opportunity to prepare for the winter season while adding festive cheer to your outdoor space. This article outlines practical steps to ensure your garden remains vibrant and healthy throughout the colder months. By implementing these strategies, your garden can thrive even in the depths of winter.
Visit Boma Garden Centre for expert guidance and to explore our vast range of gardening products. Boma Garden Centre is renowned for its ready-made planters, which are carefully crafted to offer instant displays that last through the festive season and well into the new year. The garden centre has a large selection of seasonal planters including evergreen bay trees, olive trees, grasses, trailing plants, shrubs and evergreens, for perfect outdoor displays as well as indoor plant and herb collections.
For everything from advice on frost protection or looking to enhance your garden's aesthetics, our knowledgeable staff are ready to assist you in achieving your gardening goals.
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