THE ALMANAC - DECEMBER

LAWNS 
1. Continue to remove fallen leaves from lawns before they block out light and moisture to the grass.
2. Grass will continue to grow in temperatures above 5°C (41°F), so if the weather remains mild it may be necessary to use the mower to keep the lawn in trim. Ensure the cut is 3-5mm higher than during the summer to prevent turf stress. On average, this means a cutting height of around 2-4cm (1-1.5in) for a utility lawn.
3. Repair damagedlawn edges or patches with turves cut from other areas of the garden.
4. Re-cut all lawn edges to crisp up the appearance of the garden, and save work next season.
5. Avoid walking on lawns on frosty mornings. It can damage the grass and often leads to brown footprint-shaped marks.
6. If your lawn suffers dieback from treading during the wet, muddy season, then you may wish to lay stepping-stones through it to allow easy access across it without causing damage. Stones can be laid at a low enough level to avoid interference with mowing.

VEGETABLES 
1. Lift and store root crops such as carrots, beetroot and turnips.
2. Harvest Brussels sprouts. Pick the largest sprouts from the bottom of the stalk first.
3. Some of the spring cabbages that were planted out earlier in the autumn can be used as winter greens (if they are large enough), cutting them before they have a chance to form hearts next spring.
4. Parsnips can be left in the ground until needed, or lifted and then buried in a shallow trench for easy access when needed. They taste better when frosted. Make sure to mark the trench, and to cover it with a protective layer of cardboard if hard frosts are forecast.
5. Clear late-season debris off the vegetable plots, and dispose of it as advised below in pest & disease watch.
6. If you have not done so already, now is the time to dig over and incorporate soil improvers into vacant areas of the vegetable plot. You can cover these areas with thick polythene to keep the soil dry and make it easier to work in the spring - particularly useful for heavy clay soils. Clear polythene will increase the soil temperature, enabling earlier sowings in spring. Black polythene will suppress weeds.

GREENHOUSE
1. Reduce watering and feeding of houseplants as the days shorten. Ensure that there is adequate ventilation in the greenhouse or conservatory, perhaps opening vents for an hour or two on milder days to encourage air circulation.
2. If your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata and S. x buckleyi) failed to set flower buds, it may be that the temperature is too high (above 18°C/65°F, or that the plant is receiving light from an artificial light source after dark. Try moving the cactus into cooler conditions or away from night lighting.
3. Avoid buying poinsettias that have been accidentally chilled, particularly those sold from street stalls on cold days. Once home, place them in a warm, light place, away from drafts, to ensure they last for as long as possible.
4. Place hyacinths in a cool, bright place in the home. If it's too warm, the leaves will elongate and the flowers will fade quickly.
5. Cyclamen persicum (often given as a winter pot plant) appreciates a cool room with good light. It is best watered from below (i.e. into the saucer, not the pot), as wetting the leaves can easily result in fungal infections and rotting off.
6. Pot up Hippeastrum (amaryllis), and bring them back into active growth with regular watering and feeding. They should give you beautiful flowers for the new year.

TREES AND SHRUBS
1. Continue to plant bare-root deciduous hedging plants and trees. Put rabbit guards around newly planted trees and shrubs to protect the bark from damage.
2. Move established deciduous trees and shrubs, provided the ground is not frozen or soggy.
3. Ensure any pruning of Acer and Betula is completed before the end of the year to avoid bleeding of sap from cuts.
4. Take note of the most colourful dogwoods (Cornus), Salix and white-stemmed Rubus shrubs when visiting gardens open to the public, or in garden centres, and consider planting them yourself, for a winter display.
5. Garden hygiene helps greatly in the prevention of disease carry-over from one year to the next. It is always a good idea to rake up and burn, bury, or throw away infected leaves. Diseases such as black spot on roses can be controlled to some extent in this way. Do not compost such material, though, as these diseases can persist in compost heaps and re-infect mulched plants.
6. Tie wall shrubs and climbers onto their supports to protect them from wind damage.

ROSES
1. New season roses are now in and if you have any gaps to fill then why not try a variety which you have'nt grown before.
2. Continue to keep your rose bushes tidy and remove any debris off the beds that could harbour pests or disease.
3. Freshen the look of the bed with an  additional layer of mulch  whilst keeping the roots warm through the winter.
4. Keep an eye on any rose trellis or stakes that you might have for rotting or damage.
5. Check bushes for loosness in the soil after heavy winds. Ensure that they are firm in the ground.
6. Watch out for any waterlogging of the soil in your rosebeds and take action by aerating the bed.

PERENNIALS
1. Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) blooms can look unsightly when splashed with muddy raindrops. Bark chip mulch will reduce this splashing effect, and cloches can always be used where practical.
2. In mild areas, and during dry spells, you can still lift and divide herbaceous perennials. This will increase stocks, and revive tired or poorly flowering clumps.
3. Keep tubs and containers tidy too, cutting back and removing debris regularly. They can be mulched with compost. A further mulch of grit is aesthetically pleasing, and will also reduce the surface puddling that can occur when light composts are beaten into a solid 'cap' by raindrops.
4. Continue to cut back faded herbaceous perennials and add them to the compost heap. Leave any faded flowers and seed heads that are attractive - they will add to the winter enjoyment of the garden (particularly when covered in frost), as well as providing food and shelter for wildlife.
5. It is especially important to clear leaves and debris from alpines, as they will die off if covered in damp for any length of time. Bare patches can be covered with gritty compost to encourage the re-growth of surrounding clumps into that area.
6. Check on tender plants outdoors to ensure winter protection is still in place, especially after storms.