December Gardening: 'Tis The Season!

December Gardening: ’Tis the Season!

December may seem like the quietest month in the gardening calendar, a time when frost kisses the ground and most plants slip into winter slumber. Yet, we here at the Big Daddy Garden family know that for gardeners, the season is far from dormant. In fact, December offers its own kind of magic—slower, quieter, and deeply rewarding. As the holidays fill the air with warmth and celebration, gardening during this month becomes less about frantic planting and more about reflection, preparation, and finding joy in the simple beauty of nature’s rest. December truly is the season—not just for festivities, but for cultivating a different side of your gardening life. Grab yourself a hot cup of coffee and your trowel and let’s dig in to this week’s topic!

One of the delights of December gardening is embracing the shift in pace. Summer and fall bring busy days: weeding, watering, harvesting, deadheading, and pruning. December gives the gardener permission to breathe. It’s a month of thoughtful tending rather than constant work. Many winter tasks are grounding and gentle—checking on overwintering plants, sweeping walkways, refreshing mulch, and protecting tender shrubs against harsh weather. These small routines keep you connected to your garden without overwhelming your schedule during the holiday rush.

For gardeners in milder climates, December can still offer moments of surprise color. Winter pansies, violas, hellebores, and ornamental cabbages provide cheerful splashes of purple, pink, and cream through cold mornings. Evergreen shrubs stand tall when other plants fade, offering structure and life to the landscape. Berry-bearing plants like holly, winterberry, and cotoneaster become natural ornaments—bright pops of red that complement the season’s festive spirit. Even in colder climates, bringing in evergreen boughs, berries, and pinecones for decorating can make your garden feel alive, even when the ground is frozen.

December is also a month for protection—tucking the garden in for its long winter rest. Applying mulch around perennials helps regulate soil temperature and prevents roots from suffering frost damage. Wrapping vulnerable shrubs in burlap can shield them from harsh winds. Checking that your garden tools are cleaned, oiled, and stored will ensure they last for years. These tasks may seem small, but they set the stage for a strong spring awakening. Think of it as giving your garden the cozy blanket it needs to weather the cold.

Inside the home, December gardening takes on a whole new life. Houseplants become the stars of the season, adding vibrant green and purifying the air during months when windows stay closed. This is the perfect time to repot plants that have outgrown their containers, inspect leaves for pests, and adjust watering routines to accommodate lower light and drier indoor air. Indoor herb gardens thrive during the winter and add fresh flavor to holiday meals. Rosemary, thyme, parsley, and mint grow well in sunny windowsills and bring a burst of life to December kitchens.

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of gardening in December is planning. With seed catalogs arriving like holiday mail, gardeners can dream freely—flipping through colorful pages, imagining next year’s beds, and selecting varieties they’d love to grow. Planning your spring garden in December allows you to think clearly and creatively. Do you want to add raised beds? Try new vegetables? Start a pollinator patch? Create a color-theme flower garden? The possibilities bloom even in winter’s quiet. Making lists, sketching layouts, and ordering seeds early ensures you’re ready to kick off the new season well prepared.

Holiday traditions blend beautifully with the gardener’s world this time of year. Decorating with natural materials—evergreens, pinecones, branches, holly, and berries—adds a rustic elegance to your home while celebrating nature’s gifts. Handmade wreaths, centerpieces, and garlands offer a peaceful winter activity and connect your seasonal décor directly to your garden. Even giving garden-related gifts—seeds, tools, gloves, plant markers, or garden ornaments—spreads the joy of the season with meaning and personality.

Outdoor wildlife also deserves a gardener’s attention in December. Many creatures struggle during the colder months, and gardeners can play an important role in supporting them. Bird feeders stocked with seed or nuts can help overwintering species survive. Leaving some seed heads on flowers like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans not only adds winter interest but provides crucial food. A heated birdbath or regularly refreshed water source can become a lifeline. Connecting with the winter wildlife in your garden can be one of the most heartwarming experiences of the season—especially when everything else feels still.

December gardening, in many ways, mirrors the spirit of the holidays. It’s a time of giving, nurturing, reflecting, and preparing for a hopeful future. The garden may be quieter, but its beauty is no less significant. Frost patterns sparkle on leaves, branches glisten in the cold, and the landscape takes on a peaceful stillness that invites contemplation. Holiday lights twinkle against the dark backdrop of winter evenings, illuminating garden paths and bringing cheer to even the chilliest nights.

So, while many people think gardening ends when December arrives, seasoned gardeners know this is far from true. ’Tis the season to appreciate your garden in a new light—to reflect on the year’s growth, to protect what you’ve nurtured, and to prepare for the promise of spring. December gardening is not about rushing or producing; it is about savoring, resting, and connecting deeply with the natural world.

This December, step outside, even for a moment. Take in the quiet beauty, breathe the crisp air, and let the garden remind you that every season—even the still ones—has gifts to offer! Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as we will share some Holiday deals for the gardeners in your life! After all, tis the season also for giving! Happy gardening and Happy Holidays from the BDGC family!