10 Gardening Activities for December in Northern California

1. Grow a Live Christmas Tree

Consider buying a Christmas tree that will live on after the holiday season is over. Varieties of trees such as Norfolk Island pine, monkey puzzle tree, or Southern yew are good choices for alternative Christmas trees because they can be grown as houseplants in high light areas—so they perform well during the holidays indoors. You can also plant the trees in your garden come spring. Norfolk Island pines grow slowly and rarely need trimming, making this tree an ideal choice for indoor spaces. Be sure that the pot you plant your tree in is large enough (generally, a 15-gallon container would be the minimum size to plant it in). Other more traditional-looking conifers to buy, pot, and use as a living Christmas tree include Colorado blue spruce, deodar cedar, Douglas fir, or redwoods.

2. Think About a Redesign

The late-fall and winter months are good times to rethink your garden and redesign areas that you feel need help. During these months, much of the greenery is gone so you can easily observe the bones of your garden. You can also ask yourself questions about what you want your winter garden to look like: Do I want more evergreens through winter? Do I need more color in winter from berries? Are new paths, hardscapes, or structures needed? If you need help with a design, consider an online service such as Yardzen, which does digital renderings of gardens remotely using Google Earth as well as photos and videos of your garden that you submit.

3. Prepare Garden Beds

Consider converting areas of your property or lawn that don’t get used into a new garden bed where you can plant edibles or beautiful ornamentals. Preparing the gardening beds in winter also provides ample time for soils to start building the proper chemistry for plant growth. To prepare garden beds, remove any lawn or other plant material that’s dead or diseased. Layer the bed with 2 to 4 inches of organic compost (learn how to make your own compost). Use a shovel or broadfork to aerate the soil and provide channels for nutrients, air, and water to penetrate the surface.

4. It’s Not Too Late to Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs

In California, December is still a good time to get bulbs in the ground. In fact, you can plant until the end of the month. It can help with flowering to plant pre-cooled bulbs purchased from an online retailer. Pre-cooled bulbs have already been cooled in a refrigerator for 8 to 12 weeks. Purchase from suppliers such as Brent and Becky's Bulbs. You can also grow bulbs indoors in vases or pots with or without soil.

5. Add Cyclamen, Citrus, and Conifers for Winter Interest

The winter garden can often use a pop of color and interesting structure in winter. Cyclamen, citrus, and conifers are all great selections if you’re looking to add to your garden this month. Cyclamen are vibrantly colored (red, pink, magenta) low-growing perennials, so they work well around the base of trees or shrubs as well as along paths, border edges, and in containers. Citrus work great in small spaces if pruned properly or in containers. Kumquats, lemons, limes, and mandarins are all great selections for containers to add vibrancy. Conifers can add shapely, evergreen structure to the garden; they come in naturally growing forms such as columns, globes, weeping habits, pyramids, and more.

6. Plant Camellias

Camellias can be planted in the fall, winter, or spring, but it’s often best to select plants while they are in bloom. Camellia sasanqua varieties tend to bloom in fall and into winter, C. japonica varieties start blooming in November, and other varieties bloom into late winter (February and March). Read more about planting and caring for camellias. If you’re looking to buy camellias, a great source is Nuccio's Nurseries which has a wide selection of camellias.

7. Protect Strawberries or Plant More

Strawberry plants can be sensitive to frost, so protect your patch through the winter. Plants damaged by frost will not produce as well. If you’ve planted in rows, use row covers. When growing strawberries in a standard 4- by 8-foot raised bed, use a plant protection tent that fits exactly (there shouldn’t be gaps around the edges). You can also plant strawberries in the fall. Select a location with at least 8 hours of full sun. Be sure to amend your soil well with organic compost. Strawberries also like well-draining soil, so if you have clay, for example, shape soil into mounded rows before planting to improve drainage.

8. Keep Bird Feeders Clean and Full

Birds add life, beauty, and song to the garden. Bird feeders help attract and sustain many non-migratory birds. Be sure you keep the birds that frequent your garden healthy. Rotting seeds and dirty feeders (from droppings or other contaminants) can make birds sick. Be sure to clean your feeders at least once every two weeks. To clean your feeders, remove any remaining seed and clean with hot water and soap. You can use a disinfectant such as vinegar or all-natural cleaning product if necessary. Then refill the feeder with fresh seeds. Learn more about cleaning bird feeders from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

9. Plant Bare-Root Roses

Bare root roses are typically available in the winter months. This is a great time to order and plant bare root roses from your local nurseries or online retailers such as David Austin Roses. David Austin also has a great instructional video and article on how to plant bare root roses properly.

10. Edge Garden Beds or Add a Border

Giving your garden beds a clean edge will make your garden look neat and sharp. If your garden beds abut lawn, then use a long-handled steel edger to cut a crisp edge. Learn how to edge a garden bed from This Old House. There are also options if you want to install a permanent barrier. Consider corten steel, concrete curbing, or brick for a decorative and permanent edge.