December Garden Guide

Note: This is general information for the entire state of Arkansas on what to plant in your garden in December. For specific questions about planting in your area, please reach out to your local county agent.

Winter is almost here, and we can feel it with the chilly weather, frosty mornings, and frigid nights. It’s time to round down our time in the garden outdoors, put up our tools, and turn to our indoor plants for greenery.

With plenty of leaves still changing their beautiful fall colors and falling to the ground, we must remember get out and rake excessive leaf matter so not to smother the underlying plants.

Garden Chores for December

Have you cleaned and stored your garden tools yet? It's time to sanitize our gardens!

Wondering what kind of garden chores you can do this time of year? Check out what chores we recommend doing this month:

Clean up your yard or garden by:
- Removing spent summer annuals and cleaning up perennials if you have not already done so.
- Tidying up anything in your yard/garden that has become disheveled since the last time you cleaned up.
- Continuing to rake leaves if your trees are still dropping them.
Monitor rainfall and water plants accordingly.
Work manure or compost into empty flower and vegetable beds on a warmer day. Tilling your garden in the winter can expose overwintering insects to the cold, killing them.
Spray fruit trees and ornamental trees with a dormant oil sometime between now and spring on a warm day to control scale and other insect eggs overwintering in your trees. Follow the instructions as directed on the label.
Transplant plants, if needed. Transplant from Nov–Feb while the plant is dormant. Move your plant as quickly as possible so not to expose roots to the elements; water well.
Plant spring bulbs (Last call!)
Winterize power equipment before storing.
Fertilize winter vegetables and annuals on a milder day.
Clean and oil garden hand tools before storing. Learn more about sanitizing your garden.
Mulch ornamentals for winter.
Clean and refill bird-feeders.

Do you have a maple tree? Wrap trunks of young red maples and other thin barked plants to prevent southwest winter injury.

In the Event of Freezing Temps

Cover vegetables and other plants when the temperature drops 28°F or below with an overturned box or large flower pot. When plants are frozen, avoid touching them until the temps are above freezing again. If snow is weighing down your plant, gently remove it to lighten the load. Do not prune damaged leaves, as this will expose more of the plant to the cold. Avoid pruning until February.

Holiday Gardening Tips!

Want to decorate your house with greenery from the garden? You can take cuttings of holly, magnolia, and other evergreens. Be sure to prune carefully to avoid hurting the tree, and prune lightly so you don't over-prune. Take pieces from all over the plant to keep it natural-looking.

Do you have a live Christmas tree? Be sure to give it plenty of water.

Some holiday gift ideas for your favorite Arkansas gardener: gardening books, living wreaths, drip irrigation kits, gardening tools, tropical houseplants, garden statues, or even a homemade "gift certificate" for your help in their garden!

December Vegetable Planting Guide

Depending on how mild the weather has been, you may still be seeing some warm-season vegetables. If they are still producing, continue harvesting, and if they are spent, be sure to remove them and toss them in the compost. If you are wanting to plant some cold-season vegetables, here are a few things you can plant in your garden this month:

Strawberries
Garlic
Salad greens (protected)
Cabbage
Swiss chard

December Flower Planting Guide

Poinsettias are a great way to add a pop of color to your home in the winter!

Looking for some winter color? Sasanqua camellias, deciduous hollies, and hellebores (a.k.a. Lenten rose) are extremely showy this time of year. These will need to be planted either in spring or fall, but there are still plenty of ornamentals you can plant in December:

Spring bulbs (last call!)
Garlic
Wildflowers
Pansies
Violas
Flowering kale
Purple mustard

Other popular choices for indoor winter color include poinsettias and amaryllis bulbs.

Once you have planted your winter annuals, you will want to fertilize them monthly.

Mulching Tips: Mulching helps keep the temperature of the soil more consistent, helps retain more water, and keeps unwanted weeds at bay. Avoid heaping up the mulch onto the main stem(s) of the plant to provide airflow. Place mulch 2–3 inches high in your bed and around trees.

Caring for Poinsettias

When you buy a poinsettia, punch holes in the decorative foil to allow drainage and prevent soggy conditions. Place these beauties in a plant dish to catch any excess water, and provide even moisture for the plant.

Poinsettias love a well-lit spot in bright sunlight. Be sure to place your poinsettia in a place where night temperatures do not drop below 50–60°F. Learn more about caring for poinsettias and other winter favorites in this article on Holiday Gardening and Decorating.