Winter gardening: Essential tasks for December in Northern Ohio

With Thanksgiving behind us and the first hard frosts of the season occurring, there is still some time left to attend to unfinished tasks in the garden before the ground freezes. December brings a period of dormancy for many plants, but it's also an opportune time to prepare for the upcoming growing season. Here are essential tasks to consider in your garden this month: 1. Winter protection: Shield your plants from harsh weather conditions. Mulch beds to insulate roots and tender perennials, wrap delicate shrubs with burlap or fleece, and install windbreaks to safeguard against chilling winds. 2. Tool maintenance: Clean, sharpen, and oil your garden tools before storing them for winter. This practice ensures they remain in top condition for the next gardening season. 3. Pruning: While the best period for pruning is late February or early March, late fall, when many plants are dormant and the leaves are gone, is a good time for pruning especially dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs, fostering their health and shape for Spring growth. 4. Harvest remaining produce: Gather any remaining vegetables or fruits from the garden. Dig up root crops such as horseradish. December might surprise you with a few treats, ensuring nothing goes to waste. 5. Composting: Continue composting organic waste. Turn your compost piles one last time. Use fallen leaves, kitchen scraps, and garden debris to create nutrient-rich compost for next year's planting. Be careful not to add any diseased or fungal-infected debris to your compost. Deposit these materials in the trash. 6. Protecting water sources: Prevent water features and hoses from freezing by draining and storing them properly. This protects equipment from damage caused by freezing temperatures. 7. Yard sanitation: Mow grass one last time, rake leaves, cut and remove withered stalks of perennial flowers, mulch beds, and hoe or pull winter weeds. I have lots of chickweed and henbit/deadnettle appearing in my garden. Fall is when these seeds germinate; then over winter and drop new seeds in the Spring. Now is the time to remove them. 8. Check bulbs and tubers: It is not too late to plant spring bulbs or dig up bulbs or tubers that cannot survive being frozen such as dahlias or cannas. This can be done up to the time when the ground freezes. 9. Planning for spring: Use the quieter winter months to plan next year's garden. December brings the first new catalogs and communication from seed suppliers for next season's supplies. Research new plants, sketch out garden layouts, and order seeds or bulbs for early spring planting. Take advantage of the online webinars available covering topics that may be of interest to you. 10. Indoor gardening: Shift your focus indoors. If you bring in plants from the garden or patio, be sure to check them carefully for diseases and insects before bringing them into the house. Nurture houseplants and herbs, ensuring they receive adequate light, water, and have adequate humidity during the winter months. December in Northern Ohio offers a slower pace for gardeners, but it's a crucial time for ensuring the health and readiness of your garden for the upcoming seasons. Embrace these tasks to preserve your garden spaces and set the stage for a beautiful vibrant garden in the coming spring.