Although December can be a varied month in terms of weather, there are still tasks that can be carried out in the garden.

Prune free-standing apple and pear trees. If the trees are staked, make sure that the stake is secure and the bands supporting the tree are not too tight. Loosen the band if necessary.

Plant deciduous trees and shrubs, particularly if they are bare-rooted and not container grown (deciduous trees are those which lose their leaves).

Indoor plants

Reduce the amount of water and frequency of watering houseplants; the plant is dormant and not growing so it doesn’t need as much water. If the plant is stood in water it can damage or even kill the plant.