December Garden Tasks for Zone 7: Winter Care and Planning Ahead

As winter settles in across USDA Zone 7, December brings a period of relative calm in the garden. While many plants are dormant and there’s less outdoor work to be done, it’s still important to take care of a few essential tasks to keep your garden healthy and prepare for the growing season ahead. December is also an ideal time for reflecting on the year’s successes and challenges, as well as planning for spring. Here’s a guide to the key garden tasks for December in Zone 7.

1. Mulch and Protect Plants
In December, insulating your garden beds is crucial to protect plants from fluctuating winter temperatures. If you haven’t done so already, apply a thick layer of mulch around perennials, trees, and shrubs. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature, retains moisture, and provides a buffer against frost heaving, which can expose plant roots to freezing air.

Mulching tips:

• Use 2-4 inches of organic mulch, like wood chips, straw, or shredded leaves.
• Keep mulch away from the stems or trunks of plants to prevent rot.
• Pay special attention to newly planted trees and shrubs, as their roots are more vulnerable to cold.

2. Water Evergreens
Even in winter, evergreen trees and shrubs continue to lose moisture through their leaves or needles, so it’s important to keep them hydrated. If December brings dry conditions, water evergreens during mild weather when the ground isn’t frozen. This will help prevent winter burn, where evergreens lose moisture faster than they can take it up.

Watering tips:

• Water deeply, focusing on the root zone.
• Water in the morning on mild days to avoid freezing.
• Mulch around evergreens to help retain moisture.

3. Check for Frost Heaving
Frost heaving can occur when the ground repeatedly freezes and thaws, causing the soil to push plants out of the ground. Check your garden periodically in December, especially after a freeze, to make sure perennials and young shrubs haven’t been heaved up. If you notice plants are out of the ground, press them back into place and add extra mulch for protection.

Preventing frost heaving:

• Ensure plants are properly mulched to stabilize soil temperature.
• Press plants gently back into the soil if they have heaved.

4. Prune Dormant Trees and Shrubs
December is a good time to prune trees and shrubs that are fully dormant. Without leaves, it’s easier to see the structure of deciduous trees and shape them accordingly. Focus on removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches to promote healthy growth next spring. However, avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas, as you may remove next year’s buds.

Pruning tasks:

• Prune fruit trees, like apples and pears, for better shape and airflow.
• Remove dead or damaged branches from shade trees.
• Hold off on pruning spring-bloomers like forsythia or lilacs until after they flower.

5. Inspect for Pests and Diseases
While plants may be dormant, pests and diseases can still cause problems during the winter months. Inspect the bark of trees and shrubs for signs of pests like borers or scale insects, and treat any issues promptly. If you have fruit trees, check for overwintering insect eggs or disease lesions on the branches, and consider applying dormant oil to prevent infestations in the spring.

Pest and disease prevention:

• Inspect tree bark for holes, cracks, or egg masses.
• Apply dormant oil to fruit trees to control overwintering pests.
• Remove any diseased plant material or fallen leaves.

6. Store Garden Tools and Equipment
By December, it’s important to store your garden tools and equipment properly to ensure they last through the winter. Clean and sharpen tools before storing them, and drain garden hoses to prevent freezing and cracking. If you use gas-powered equipment like lawn mowers or trimmers, drain the fuel or add a fuel stabilizer before storing them.

Tool storage tips:

• Clean tools thoroughly to remove soil and rust.
• Sharpen pruners, shears, and shovels.
• Store hoses and tools in a dry, sheltered place to prevent rust and damage.

7. Feed Winter Wildlife
Winter can be a tough time for birds and other wildlife, so consider setting up bird feeders or leaving some plants with seed heads intact to provide food. Offering food, water, and shelter for birds will attract them to your garden, helping control pests in the spring while adding life to your winter landscape.

Winter wildlife care:

• Hang bird feeders filled with seeds, suet, or fruit.
• Leave seed heads from plants like coneflowers or sunflowers.
• Provide a heated birdbath to ensure birds have access to fresh water.

8. Plan Next Year’s Garden
With fewer outdoor tasks to tackle in December, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your garden’s performance this year and start planning for next season. Make notes about which plants thrived, what struggled, and what changes you’d like to make. December is also a good time to order seeds for spring planting and research new plant varieties to try.

Planning tasks:

• Review your garden journal or notes from this past season.
• Plan crop rotations for your vegetable garden.
• Order seeds and bulbs for spring planting.

9. Start Indoor Gardening Projects
If you’re missing your time in the garden, December is a great month to start some indoor gardening projects. You can grow herbs on a sunny windowsill, force bulbs like amaryllis or paperwhites for winter blooms, or even start seeds for next season under grow lights. Indoor gardening is a perfect way to keep your green thumb active during the colder months.

Indoor gardening ideas:

• Grow herbs like basil, parsley, or mint indoors.
• Force bulbs for holiday blooms.
• Start cool-season vegetable seeds under grow lights for a head start on spring.

10. Compost Fallen Leaves
If you have a compost pile, keep adding fallen leaves and kitchen scraps throughout the winter. Shredded leaves break down faster, and you can insulate your compost pile with straw or a tarp to keep it warm enough to continue decomposing through the cold months. By spring, you’ll have rich compost ready to improve your soil.

Composting tips:

• Shred leaves before adding them to the pile for faster decomposition.
• Turn the pile occasionally to keep it active.
• Insulate the compost pile with a cover to retain heat.

Final Thoughts
December may be quieter in the garden, but there are still plenty of important tasks to take care of. From protecting your plants from winter damage to pruning dormant trees and planning next year’s garden, the work you do now will ensure a healthy and beautiful garden come spring. Take advantage of the slower pace to enjoy the beauty of winter and dream about the growing season ahead.

Happy gardening!