IN THE GARDEN
1 Place flowerpots on feet. Gardening jobs for December 2 Check that protection on plants is still secure but also remove protection during mild spells.
3 Plant, or transplant, trees and shrubs.
4 Finish clearing leaves and debris from the garden.
5 Continue mulching beds if the ground isn’t frozen.
6 Take hardwood cuttings of shrubs such as dogwoods ( Cornus spp), forsythia and buddleja, and also climbers such as honeysuckle ( Lonicera spp).
Taking a few simple steps can help protect treasured plants from the ravages of harsh weather
Wrapping plants It can also be beneficial to wrap plants during cold, wet spells. In mild winters, covering the crown of tree ferns ( Dicksonia antarctica ) with a bundle of fleece, hessian, bracken or straw is enough to protect the crown and developing fronds. In harsher winters, tree ferns and other exotics, such as the Japanese banana ( Musa basjoo ), will benefit from some additional protection: being completely wrapped up in horticultural fleece, hessian, straw or bracken and perhaps supported with a framework of canes or stakes. It may not be possible to move larger tender plants such as Japanese pittosporum ( Pittosporum tobira ) out of a permanent planting position, so these can also be wrapped in a fleece or hessian blanket. If you’re covering or wrapping your plants during periods of cold, remember to remove the protective coverings during milder spells to prevent the plants sweating and rotting. Overwintering tender bulbs, corms and tubers If you’re growing tender bulbs, corms or tubers – including dahlias, cannas and
LOVING CARE If the temperatures are milder during winter, covering the crown of a tree fern ( Dicksonia antarctica , above left) with fleece, hessian, bracken or straw should be enough to protect it
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK DECEMBER 2025 95
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