Caring for Your Garden in December: Winter Prep
December on the North Shore brings the quiet beauty of a resting landscape. The leaves are gone, the ground begins to freeze, and the focus shifts from growing to protecting. While most of the garden work is done for the year, there are still a few simple steps you can take this month to ensure your property weathers winter well and wakes up strong in spring.
1. Check and Protect Your Plants
Even after the first frost, it’s important to make sure your plants are protected. Heavy winds and salt spray can dry out evergreens and damage shrubs. Burlap wraps or windbreaks help shield them from the elements, especially in exposed coastal areas. If we experience a mild spell, water your evergreens before the ground freezes — they still need moisture to survive the winter.
2. Mulch and Insulate Garden Beds
If you haven’t already, add a layer of mulch around the base of perennials, trees, and shrubs. Mulch helps insulate roots and maintain soil temperature, preventing freeze-thaw damage. A few inches of shredded leaves or bark mulch does the job well and adds organic matter as it breaks down.
3. Watch for Winter Damage
Winter storms can take a toll on branches and shrubs. After heavy snow, gently brush snow off evergreen branches (don’t shake them, which can cause breakage). Keep an eye on young trees and newly planted shrubs — Pinebrook Landscaping can provide midwinter check-ins if needed to protect your investment plantings.
4. Plan and Dream for Spring
While your garden rests, this is the perfect time to plan. Think about what worked well this year — and what you’d like to change. Maybe you’ve been considering new walkways, a stone patio, or an expanded planting bed. Pinebrook Landscaping can help you design updates during the winter months so your project is ready to go once the ground thaws.
5. Enjoy the Season
Winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your yard. Add evergreen boughs, winterberry, or pinecones to planters for natural outdoor decor. A touch of green and texture keeps your landscape inviting even through the coldest days.
At Pinebrook Landscaping, we believe great landscapes are cared for year-round. Our winter services include garden protection, property maintenance, and planning for spring projects — because even when your garden sleeps, it’s still growing toward next season.
Contact us to schedule winter prep or start planning your next landscaping project before the busy spring rush.
Would you like me to create a matching set of social media captions for this December post, similar to what we did for November?