Don't Forget The Great Outdoors

Wrap up warm, says Will Clark, and plant some colour to celebrate the festive season

ONCE we get to December, attention is naturally turned towards the upcoming festive season and we can sometimes forget about our gardens. However, on cold, bright days the winter garden is a lovely, restful place to be and provides a great distraction from shopping lists and meal planning.

December isn’t a busy month in the garden but there are still jobs to do, creative ones as well as the more routine, so you might as well wrap up warm and set to it.

There is some pruning to be getting on with. Birches and acers (Japanese maples) might need pruning to be kept in shape and now is the time to do it, as they may bleed sap if it’s left much later. When pruning acers, bear in mind that much of their beauty is in their shape, so prune very gently each year, never cutting into old wood, to keep in check but retain the elegance. Apple and pear trees should also be pruned this month.